GKV Architects provide design services for 9,000 s/f auditorium

The New York City-based architectural firm of Gerner, Kronick + Valcarcel Architects (GKV) has recently provided design services for the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT). The new auditorium included enlarged seating capacity for over 260 students, as well as a revised egress plan for the modernized lecture hall. In addition to design services, GKV followed the project on a weekly basis during construction to ensure compliance and quality assurance and to facilitate the 4½ month design through to completion schedule. Located at 1871 Broadway - formerly occupied by Clearview Cinema - near Columbus Circle, the audtiorium extends NYIT's Manhattan campus footprint north towards the cultural heart of Lincoln Center. The 9,000 s/f space incorporates a hidden mezzanine harboring green rooms, mechanical rooms and the refurbished projector room. "This project fully embraced what we do as an architectural firm and was quite thrilling to be a part of," said Randy Gerner, principal, GKV Architects. "The renovation used much of the existing architectural elements, while simultaneously leveraging unique details and incorporating new elements in a very short window of time." The new NYIT auditorium also features a new ADA-accessible stage with a large front projection screen and is equipped with high definition teleconferencing capabilities. The 262-seat auditorium which is used for lectures, conferences, movie screenings and film festivals, as well as other events.