©Michael Moran OTTO

The Manhattan Class Company (MCC) began 32 years ago as a collective of young actors, writers and directors with the mission of re-defining the NYC theater scene. Finally, after years of renting and relocating, this Off-Broadway non-profit now has a permanent space of their own!

Located on 52nd street in NYC’s Hell’s Kitchen, their new 27,000 square foot space has two state of the art theaters with 45 foot ceilings, rehearsal space, offices and a bar. The theaters, one with proscenium-style seating for 245 and the other with a flexible layout to seat up to 100 people, are designed by Andrew Berman Architects to, as the theater website touts, ‘do what they do best: promote conversations’.

The space was delivered in white box condition and the architect wished to maintain the exposed concrete aesthetic. In the large theater, GMS designed a new exposed concrete balcony, a new control room level, exposed structural steel catwalks, flying grid supports and technical balconies. In the smaller theater, GMS designed new cold-formed steel control room and control room ceiling, and structural steel catwalks and lighting supports. There are two large rehearsal studios, theater administrative spaces as well as the bar, pantries, a green room and box office. Additional floor space was created at an intermediate level for dressing rooms and wardrobe. Both theaters are acoustically isolated, as the facility is situated in the lower levels of an apartment building which is located over the Amtrak train tunnels.

GMS has extensive experience with NYC theaters – building out new spaces, moving existing and historic theaters, preserving historic features and supporting restorations of all kinds. Give Jessica Mandrick or Ramon Gilsanz a call to see how we can help you build, modify or renovate your theater space.

©Michael Moran OTTO

©Michael Moran OTTO

©Michael Moran OTTO

©Michael Moran OTTO