Grimshaw reveals $32 million Coney Island amphitheatre

April 9, 2009 at 5:45 pm Leave a comment

The 3.5ha project in Asser Levy Park is part of a major regeneration of Coney Island, formerly a favourite holiday and day trip resort for residents from the New York area.

Last week, it was announced that £10 million of the US government’s stimulus package will be spent replacing parts of Coney Island’s boardwalk.

Grimshaw’s amphitheatre, which will be funded by the New York City Department of Design & Construction, Brooklyn Borough President’s Office, and the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, will act as a gateway to the area and is due to be completed by 2011.

The scheme, to replace the existing bandstand built in the eighties, is designed to reflect the seasonal use of the amphitheatre, which will host performances in the summer, with a flexible seating plan.

Three thousand of the 8,000 seats, on a lawn area in front of the amphitheatre, will be removed in the winter months to create an extra 3,250sq m of space for park use. The remaining 5,000 seats will be replaced by an ice rink.

A swooping 5,500sq m roof, inspired by a bicycle wheel, has won it the nickname “the pringle” from local residents.

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http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=426&storycode=3138091&channel=426&c=2