Designed by Milwaukee architects Kirchoff & Rose, and built by the vaudeville mogul Martin Beck in 1913, the Palace Theatre, a foremost entertainment venue in the country, was designated an interior NYC landmark in 1987. In its lifetime, the Palace Theatre has been transformed from vaudeville playhouse to movie house to performing arts theater, hosting major Broadway stars such as Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, and Meryl Streep.

In 2013, PBDW was engaged to design TSX Broadway: a redevelopment project featuring entertainment and hospitality programing including the visionary elevation of the theater 30 feet above grade to allow for retail use below. PBDW supported the client’s vision through numerous project presentations to community constituents and authorities having jurisdiction, obtaining preliminary zoning, LPC, DOB and other regulatory approvals through late 2016. Since then, PBDW has been focusing exclusively on the restoration of the landmark theater.

The TSX Broadway development provides the theater with a new lobby on 47th Street, code compliant and accessible front and back of house amenities, a new double height gridiron, new orchestra pit and stage lifts, new trap room and follow spot booth, and new theatrical equipment, enhancing the theater’s operations.

PBDW’s scope for the restoration and substantial infrastructural upgrades to the building included documentation of existing conditions, construction documents for the repair, and restoration of historic flat and decorative cast plaster, marble, cast-iron guardrails and decorative grilles, and wood trims and moldings. Exterior restoration included terracotta, flat terracotta arches, and repairs to brick and granite elements. We developed an elegant new finishes palette and sensitively designed new light fixtures inspired by the design of the original, no longer extant. Select salvaged elements were repurposed as wayfinding signage. PBDW collaborated with several consultants on a campaign of finishes investigation and analysis, on investigative probes and non-destructive evaluations, and on the elaboration of environmental and vibration monitoring throughout the construction process.

Following this transformation, the Palace will be elevated—physically, functionally, and experientially—returning to its intended level of grandeur and doing justice to its spectacular, unique interior and rich history.

Theatre Architect and Preservation Architect: PBDW Architects (Scott Duenow, James Seger, Sean King, Brigitte Cook, Brooke Collaer, Kristin Bauer, Michael Neglia, Debora Barros, Jennifer Whisenhunt, Leza Rozmarek, Nick Shrier, Kylee Pearson, Kamay Jin, Marshall Sellers, Vikrant Dalvi, Cornell Chu, Jack Rutka, Edward May, Laura Boynton, Lawrence Chen)

Architect of Record (FOH/BOH Theater Space and Tower): Mancini Duffy

MEP Engineer: Cosentini Associates, Inc.

Theatrical Consultant: Theatre Projects

Structural Engineer: Severud Associates Consulting Engineers, P.C, and Robert Silman Associates Structural Engineers, DPC (Peer review)

Theater Lift Engineer: Urban Foundation Engineering LLC

Structural Review of Plaster Framing and Select Material Analysis: Wiss, Janney, Elster Associates, Inc.

Kitchen: Next Step Design

Code Consulting: Design 2147 and Rizzo Group

Conservator: Jablonski Building Conservation, Inc.

Lighting Designer: Fisher Marantz Stone and Reveal Design Group

Acoustical Consultant: Jaffe Holden

Elevator Consultant: Vidaris, Inc.and IROS Elevator Design Services

Construction Manager: Structure Tone Building Group (Theater), Pavarini McGovern (Entertainment, Hospitality, and Retail)

Archival Research: Higgins Quasebarth

Owner’s Representative: PRA Consulting

Photography: Francis Dzikowski and Whitney Cox

“How a 7,000 Ton Broadway Theater was Hoisted 30 Feet,” NY Times

“A Performance Fit for Broadway,” Civil and Structural Engineer Media

“Effort to lift Times Square's Palace Theatre 30 feet off the ground finally accomplished,” CBS New York

“1st look inside Broadway's iconic Palace Theatre, now 30 feet above Times Square,” ABC 7 NY

“Why New York’s Iconic Palace Theatre is being raised 30 feet…,” Fast Company

“Historic Palace Theater begins 30-foot rise over Times Square for $2.5B TSX Broadway hotel,” 6sqft

“NYC’s Historic Palace Theatre Begins Lift to Hover 30 Feet Over Times Square,” Untapped New York

“Legendary Palace Theatre is Moving On Up — 30 Feet to be Exact," W42ST.com

“Broadway’s Palace Theatre Has Begun Its 8 Week, 30 Foot Ascent,” Observer

“Iconic Broadway theater being lifted 30 feet above Times Square,” ABC 7 NY

“Palace Theatre Begins 30-ft Climb Into TSX Broadway,” ENR New York

“Times Square Palace Theater Will Be Raised 30 Feet Above Street Level,” Leverage

“Photo: Construction Continues to Lift the Palace Theatre in Times Square,” Broadway World

“Construction continues on Broadway’s renovated and soon to be raised Palace Theatre!!” New York Broadway Tours

“Photo: Get A Peek Inside the Palace Theatre Renovation,” Broadway World

“Times Square’s Palace Theatre overhaul includes outdoor stage and ‘ball drop’ suites,” 6sqft

“TSX Broadway to bring outdoor stage and 30 'Ball Drop Suites' to watch New Year's Eve celebrations,” City Realty

“Nederlander’s Palace Theatre rebuild by TSX Broadway is on schedule to reopen in 2022 to become the newest and largest Broadway theatre in New York City,” NYTIX

“How B'Way's Famed Palace Theatre Will Rise to New Heights,” NY1

“Plan for new $2.5B Times Square tower faces unique challenge,” New York Post

“Images reveal historic plans for $2.5 billon Times Square redevelopment,” CLADglobal

“In Times Square, two historic theaters get ready for the spotlight once again,” Curbed New York

“Raising the Roof: Inside the Palace Theatre’s $2 Billion Plan to Elevate Itself to New Levels,” Commercial Observer

“Times Square’s Palace Theater to Get $2B Revamp, Hotel,” Curbed New York

“New York City’s Palace Theatre to Be Elevated in Hotel Project,” The Wall Street Journal