New York, NY
Lincoln Center
David Geffen Hall - Kenneth C. Griffin Sidewalk Studio
project brief & challenges—
As part of an extensive two-year renovation aimed at rejuvenating the David Geffen Hall, the architect wanted to make the Kenneth C. Griffin Sidewalk Studio feel dramatic and come alive with energy. The Sidewalk Studio is a venue for small-scale performances, rehearsals, and community gatherings, prominently located at the corner of Columbus Avenue and 65th Street. The Sidewalk Studio was intentionally designed to be accessible and visible to outside passersby, providing an open door into the creative process and artistry at Lincoln Center.
AV&C, the experience design team responsible for the digital elements throughout the public spaces, faced the challenge of incorporating a media element in the Studio’s acoustic walls. To meet the design goal of the digital element, a custom solution was required. The solution called for a tunable true white, a wide color spectrum, optical effects with a lens/diffuser, and creative problem- solving due to power load, heat dissipation, and space constraints. The individually controllable high-brightness LED strips were to be dispersed between acoustic paneling, all integrated into the Studios’ existing back wall.
For more information, visit https://www.lincolncenter.org/venue/david-geffen-hall/info/kenneth-c-griffin-sidewalk-studio.
approach—
With no readily available product to meet the design goals, AV&C engaged with 5TEN to design and engineer a custom solution. In a collaborative design engineering process, we created ±1,000 linear feet of four (4) custom-sized strips populated with individually controllable RGB+W LED video diodes at a 16mm pixel-pitch, featuring an 8000-9500nit/m2 brightness, and a special grey diffuser to blend in with the acoustic paneling.
In order to control the RGB separately from the White diode and to maximize the highest refresh rates for smooth content transitions, we brought onboard the engineers from Megapixel and collaborated in customizing their high-end video control processing platform with its true 16-bit processing capabilities.
To navigate supply chain challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, essential parts were procured early in the design process to avoid delays. After rounds of testing, the final design concept and a sample were submitted for certification. Concurrently, comprehensive documentation was completed for site preparations.
execution—
All the parts and components converged in NY, where the final product was assembled, and the UL certification process was completed. To ensure on-time on-site delivery, the entire 5TEN team and a pool of talented contractors worked tirelessly and nonstop. With the flexibility of the client and the on-site team, the fixtures were installed, programmed, and we completed tweaking of this first-of-its-kind high-quality RGB+W LED fixture with the local union team. Training, as-built documentation, and ample spares will allow the end-client to enjoy the Digital Media element for years to come.
