Lincoln Center — Kenneth C. Griffin Sidewalk Studio
A public-facing media system integrated into the architecture of Lincoln Center’s Sidewalk Studio, connecting the performance space inside with the street outside.
PROJECT BRIEF & CHALLENGES
As part of the major renovation of David Geffen Hall, the Kenneth C. Griffin Sidewalk Studio was designed as an intimate performance space that would remain visibly connected to the surrounding city. Located at the corner of Columbus Avenue and 65th Street, the studio was conceived as a venue where rehearsals, small performances, and community events could be seen from the street.
To support this vision, the design team sought a media system that would animate the interior architecture while remaining legible to pedestrians outside. The challenge was to integrate a digital element directly into the studio’s acoustic wall construction without compromising the room’s acoustic performance, spatial constraints, or thermal conditions.
The solution required individually controllable high-brightness LED elements integrated between acoustic panels, capable of delivering tunable white light, a wide color spectrum, and consistent visual performance across both daytime and nighttime conditions.
APPROACH
Working closely with AV&C and the architectural team, 5 TEN developed a custom LED systemdesigned to integrate directly within the architectural and acoustic constraints of the studio.
The solution consists of approximately 1,000 linear feet of LED elements embedded within the wall structure. Each strip incorporates individually addressable RGB+W LED diodes arranged at a 16 mm pixel pitch and engineered to deliver high brightness while maintaining visual softness through a grey optical diffuser that blends with the acoustic paneling.
To support independent control of RGB and white channels, 5 TEN collaborated with Megapixel to integrate their high-performance processing platform. The system’s 16-bit processing architecture enables smooth transitions, accurate color rendering, and high refresh rates suitable for video-driven content.
SOLUTION
The final installation forms a continuous field of light integrated directly into the studio’s architectural surfaces. The LED elements operate as both a media display and a spatial lighting system, allowing the walls of the Sidewalk Studio to shift between subtle ambient illumination and dynamic visual compositions.
All components were fabricated and assembled in New York, where the system underwent testing and UL certification before installation. Working closely with the project team and local union crews, 5 TEN completed installation, programming, and commissioning on site.
The result is a permanent media system that functions simultaneously as performance infrastructure and architectural expression, extending Lincoln Center’s creative presence from the stage to the street.
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