In architecture , pavilion has several meanings;
103-530: The New York State Pavilion is a pavilion at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens , New York City, United States. Constructed for the 1964 New York World's Fair , it was designed by the architects Philip Johnson and Richard Foster , with Lev Zetlin as the structural engineer. The pavilion consists of three reinforced concrete -and-steel structures: the Tent of Tomorrow, observation towers, and Theaterama. It
206-468: A swimming pool may have sufficient character and charm to be called a pavilion. By contrast, a free-standing pavilion can also be a far larger building such as the Royal Pavilion at Brighton , which is in fact a large Indian-style palace; however, like its smaller namesakes, the common factor is that it was built for pleasure and relaxation. A sports pavilion is usually a building adjacent to
309-456: A " Madame Tussaud 's Waxworks" for attention. Joseph Love was hired to organize the fashion exhibits in the pavilion. Although Love reached out to 20,000 companies to determine their interest in the pavilion, only 50 companies had responded by the end of 1963. Workers began pouring concrete for the observation towers' columns in June 1963, and the layout of the Tent of Tomorrow had been finalized by
412-540: A 3D laser scan of the pavilion that May. UCF began scanning the pavilion that June. The Tent of Tomorrow's terrazzo map was damaged that July by arsonists. Local officials announced plans in March 2015 to illuminate the pavilion and began testing out a lighting system that month. In May 2015, several labor unions announced that they would repaint Tent of Tomorrow. The majority of the labor was done by union trainees, and contractors donated $ 3 million worth of materials to repaint
515-544: A World's Fair pavilion for the government of New York state as early as January 1960, four months before he became the president of the World's Fair Corporation. By late 1960, Moses was drawing up plans for exhibits at the pavilion, including exhibits about tourism, New York state geography, and the New York Power Authority . The corporation's officials discussed the location of the proposed pavilion for over
618-509: A central pillar; the decks of each tower are suspended from the roof beams. Each tower's deck is made of steel, with a concrete finish. The northern and southern towers have indentations to accommodate the elevator on the tallest (western) tower. The western tower has a double deck with a staircase connecting the two levels, as well as a transparent wainscoting . Originally, each tower had a ceiling composed of roof tiles within an aluminum grid, and there were also metal window and door frames. There
721-604: A contract with the World's Fair Corporation in February 1962, allowing the government of New York state to sponsor an exhibit at the 1964 World's Fair. At the time, the governments of 30 states and Puerto Rico were planning pavilions at the fair, and the New York State Pavilion was to be the largest of these structures. The pavilion was one of two structures that the New York state government would erect for
824-564: A list of the world's 100 most endangered structures, the following year. The borough president at the time, Helen M. Marshall , wanted to demolish the structures, but NYC Parks' 2008 master plan for Flushing Meadows–Corona Park called for its preservation. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania began restoring a small number of the Tent of Tomorrow's terrazzo tiles in 2008. The towers' elevators were removed that year because of concerns that pieces would fall off during high winds, and
927-468: A park, etc., used for shelter or entertainment" is attested from 1680s. Sense of "small or moderate-sized building, isolated from but dependent on a larger or principal building" (as in a hospital) is by 1858. Pavilions may be small garden outbuildings, similar to a summer house or a kiosk ; small rooms on the roof of a large house, reached only via the roof (rather than by internal stairs) may also be called pavilions. These were particularly popular up to
1030-514: A rectangular block, or only connected to the main block by a thin section of building. The two 18th-century English country houses of Houghton Hall and Holkham Hall illustrate these different approaches in turn. In the Place des Vosges (1605–1612), Paris, twin pavilions mark the centers of the north and south sides of the square. They are named the Pavillon du Roi (“king’s pavilion”) and
1133-434: A restaurant, a fine arts exhibit, and a New York Power Authority exhibit. The tent's mezzanine showcased local museums' exhibits, a rose garden, exhibits on industries, and other aspects of New York state culture. There was also to be a restaurant themed to a farmers market . The three towers were used as an observation deck, a concession stand, and a dignitaries' lounge. The highest observation tower also had an exhibition by
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#17327725137311236-645: A separate entity) continues to manage the theater today. Along with the opera and ballet companies, another early tenant of the theater was the now defunct Music Theater of Lincoln Center whose president was composer Richard Rodgers . In the mid 1960s, the company produced fully staged revivals of classic Broadway musicals. These included The King and I ; Carousel (with original star, John Raitt ); Annie Get Your Gun (revised in 1966 by Irving Berlin for its original star, Ethel Merman ); Show Boat ; and South Pacific . In July 2008, oil-and-gas billionaire David H. Koch pledged to provide $ 100 million over
1339-409: A sports ground used for changing clothes and often partaking of refreshments. Often it has a verandah to provide protection from the sun for spectators. In cricket grounds , as at Lord's , a cricket pavilion tends to be used for the building the players emerge from and return to, even when this is actually a large building including a grandstand . A pavilion in stadia , especially baseball parks,
1442-703: A temporary bubble over the rink. Queens Playhouse also stored its equipment and furniture in the pavilion. The observation towers were still unused. In advance of the United States Bicentennial , in 1973, the Queens Bicentennial Commission proposed converting the New York State Pavilion into a venue for exhibits, performances, and events. The New York City government abruptly closed the Tent of Tomorrow and canceled Robert Jelin's lease in July 1974 after finding severe damage to
1545-438: A tension ring at the center, which originally had a plastic dome. Near the outer edge of the roof are two elliptical girders; the outer girder is thicker than the inner girder. The outer girder contains web plates shaped like battle axes, onto which the ends of the cables are mounted. A pair of cables is mounted to each web plate, with one cable each connected to the top and bottom, and there are smaller vertical stringers connecting
1648-528: A time. The flags of New York state and the U.S. were hoisted to the top of the highest observation tower at a ceremony in December 1963. The New York State Council on the Arts also announced plans for two art exhibits at the pavilion, one during each of the World's Fair's two operating seasons. By January 1964, the pavilion's predicted final cost had increased to $ 13.8 million. The New York State Legislature
1751-487: A year, and they ultimately selected a site known as Block 46 in May 1961. The site covered 129,392 square feet (12,021 m) and was chosen specifically because it was slightly larger than Block 45, which was to be occupied by the government of New Jersey . Negotiations over potential exhibits, including discussions over a potential fashion exhibit, continued through 1961. New York's lieutenant governor, Malcolm Wilson , signed
1854-530: Is a typical 18th-century aristocratic hunting pavilion. The pavilion, located on the site of an old Roman villa, includes a garden à la française , which was used by the guests for receptions. New York State Theater The David H. Koch Theater is a theater for ballet and dance at Lincoln Center in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City . Originally named
1957-416: Is a typically single-decked covered seating area (as opposed to the more expensive seating area of the main grandstand and the less expensive seating area of the uncovered bleachers ). Externally, pavilions may be emphasised by any combination of a change in height, profile (a flat facade may end in round pavilions, or flat ones that project out), colour, material, and ornament. Internally they may be part of
2060-750: Is in the central section of Flushing Meadows–Corona Park . It is northeast of the interchange between the Long Island Expressway and Grand Central Parkway , about 700 feet (210 m) from the LIE and 400 feet (120 m) from the GCP. The site, known during the World's Fair as Block 46, is surrounded by asphalt paths and lawns. North of the New York State Pavilion are the Unisphere , Queens Museum , Billie Jean King National Tennis Center , and Citi Field . Two World's Fair time capsules are buried near
2163-784: Is one of several structures from the 1964 fair that remain in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, along with the Unisphere, Queens Museum, Terrace on the Park , and the New York Hall of Science . The Tent of Tomorrow is elliptical and measures either 240 by 320 feet (73 by 98 m), or 250 by 350 feet (76 by 107 m) across. The Tent of Tomorrow is surrounded by sixteen reinforced concrete columns. The columns are variously cited as measuring 98 feet (30 m) or 100 feet (30 m) tall. There are slots for beams within each of
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#17327725137312266-709: Is owned by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) and listed on the National Register of Historic Places . The New York State Pavilion was first proposed in January 1960. After the New York state government agreed to host an exhibit at the World's Fair in early 1962, work on the structures began on October 8, 1962. It opened on April 23, 1964, and operated as a World's Fair attraction for two years. NYC Parks took over
2369-470: The Pavillon de la Reine (“queen’s pavilion”), though no royal personage ever lived in the square. With their triple archways, they function like gatehouses that give access to the privileged space of the square. French gatehouses had been built in the form of such pavilions in the preceding century. In some areas, a pavilion is a term for a hunting lodge . The Pavillon de Galon in Luberon , France ,
2472-529: The New York State Comptroller 's office launched an investigation into the construction costs of the pavilion. Comptroller Arthur Levitt ultimately determined that the pavilion had cost $ 12,292,225 to erect, slightly lower than the predicted final cost of about $ 12.4 million but much higher than the original budget of $ 3.825 million. The pavilion itself reopened at the beginning of the World's Fair's second season on April 21, 1965. As with
2575-706: The New York State Theater , the venue has been home to the New York City Ballet since its opening in 1964, the secondary venue for the American Ballet Theatre in the fall, and served as home to the New York City Opera from 1964 to 2011. The theater occupies the south side of the main plaza of Lincoln Center, opposite David Geffen Hall near 63rd Street and Columbus Avenue . The New York State Theater
2678-625: The Port of New York Authority , and the Long Island Rail Road . Five architects participated in an unofficial architectural design competition . Philip Johnson , who also designed the New York State Theater, was hired to design the pavilion in mid-1962. Johnson later stated that Rockefeller had personally selected him for the project. The Thompson–Starrett Company received the general contract for construction. At
2781-480: The Queens Theatre performing arts center since 1989. The New York State Pavilion was used for TV and movie sets over the years, and it has had generally positive architectural reception. Flushing Meadows–Corona Park , a former ash dump in the New York City borough of Queens , was used for the 1939/1940 New York World's Fair . At the conclusion of the fair, it was used as a park. The Flushing Meadows site
2884-533: The Utica Municipal Auditorium in Utica, New York . The roof was intended to eliminate the need for internal columns while remaining stable in high winds, and it was also much lighter than comparable roofs, at 9 pounds per square foot (44 kg/m; 0.43 kPa). The roof is 50,000 square feet (4,600 m) or 55,000 square feet (5,100 m), and, at the time of construction, was described as
2987-519: The 18th century and can be equated to the Italian casina , formerly rendered in English "casino". These often resembled small classical temples and follies . Especially if there is some space for food preparation, they may be called a banqueting house . A pavilion built to take advantage of a view may be referred to as a gazebo . Bandstands in a park are a class of pavilion. A poolhouse by
3090-432: The 1964 season, the New York State Pavilion displayed a visual-art exhibit called The River: People and Places , with 50 works that represented the state's early history or early artists. More than 500 talent show performances were scheduled at the pavilion during the 1964 season. Many of these performances were grouped according to geographic location or cultural background, so that acts with a similar theme were performed on
3193-484: The Arts sought to convert the pavilion into a performing-arts center. In early 1972, NYC Parks and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs announced that they would lease the Tent of Tomorrow to a roller-rink operator, and a local company offered to pay $ 6 million to renovate the tent into a roller rink. Queens Community Board 4 threatened to request an injunction to prevent the tent from being leased until public hearings were hosted. David Oats and Eric Ierardi,
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3296-540: The New York State Pavilion. Katz and Mayor Bill de Blasio each allocated $ 6.45 million in taxpayer monies, while the other $ 800,000 was allocated by the New York City Council . The project was to include stabilization, waterproofing, electrical upgrades, and new lighting. In addition, as part of the Cities Project, Heineken organized an Indiegogo fundraiser, seeking to raise $ 15,000 to restore
3399-414: The New York state government had predicted that the pavilion's Wing of Fashion would attract thousands of fashion companies, only 132 firms had signed up for space during the 1965 season. The mayor's committee recommended in mid-1965 that the New York State Pavilion be demolished after the fair, even though Moses and the state government supported its preservation. Moses proposed restoring the pavilion after
3502-543: The Post Office building were relocated to the New York State Pavilion, where they remained until mid-1979. By the late 1970s, Oats was petitioning state officials to find a company to restore the terrazzo map on the Tent of Tomorrow's floor, which was decaying. According to Oats, the film director Sidney Lumet had offered to repair the pavilion when he was shooting his 1978 film The Wiz there. The New York City government rejected Lumet's offer, telling him to restore
3605-468: The State Legislature, with a suggestion box for laws; a machine with FAQs about the legislature; and a short film. The Theaterama displayed films that highlighted various visitor attractions in New York state, in addition to exhibits with art relating to the state. Corning Glass , General Electric , American Bridge Company , and Schweizer Aircraft were among the companies that exhibited at
3708-495: The Tent of Tomorrow became a rehearsal space as well, and the Queens Theatre also wanted to convert the rest of the pavilion into additional rehearsal and performance spaces. The terrazzo map in the tent would have been restored as well. In 1994, the city government announced that it would spend $ 208,000 to hire a consultant to prepare a feasibility study for the observation towers and Tent of Tomorrow. The feasibility study
3811-487: The Tent of Tomorrow that year, finding severe damage to wooden beams, walls, concrete, and cables. The firm estimated that it would cost up to $ 29 million to restore the tent, compared with $ 9.7 million to raze it. During 2009, volunteers began repainting the tent's base, clearing debris, and covering the terrazzo map with gravel and sand. That year, the Pavilion Paint Project was also established to repaint
3914-681: The Tent of Tomorrow's terrazzo floor. The fundraiser ultimately raised $ 40,000. Meanwhile, the city government began looking for a contractor to restore the pavilion in early 2018. The city had trouble hiring a contractor; by July, only two companies had submitted bids for the restoration of the pavilion. That December, the Federal Emergency Management Agency provided $ 16.5 million to fix damage that had been caused in 2012 by Hurricane Sandy . The city government announced in September 2019 that it would begin renovating
4017-471: The Tent of Tomorrow, observation towers, and Theaterama. The Tent of Tomorrow is at the center of the site, the observation towers are to the northwest, and the Theaterama is to the northeast. The pavilion was primarily designed by the architectural partnership of Philip Johnson and Richard Foster . The structural engineer Lev Zetlin is credited with designing the Tent of Tomorrow's roof. The pavilion
4120-426: The Tent of Tomorrow, the drainage system, and the floor of the pavilion were also replaced. In addition, the lighting was restored, the stairs in the towers were renovated, and the concrete was replaced. Originally, the work was supposed to be finished in early 2021, but the first phase of the project was not completed until April 2023. The Tent of Tomorrow and the towers were illuminated at night starting in 2023, when
4223-491: The Theaterama began in 2005. The next year, an aviation obstruction light on the tallest observation tower was broken for several months until the city government hired mountain climbers to fix the light. The New York Landmarks Conservancy listed the New York State Pavilion as one of the city's most endangered sites in 2006, and the World Monuments Fund added the pavilion to the 2008 World Monuments Watch ,
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4326-467: The Theaterama into a 500-seat performing-arts venue. The modifications included new lighting and a semi-thrust stage , as well as removal of some of the original decor. Due to difficulties in raising funds, the Queens Playhouse did not move into the Theaterama until October 1972. During the 1970s, several groups took turns operating the Theaterama. A Newsday reporter wrote in early 1969 that
4429-497: The Theaterama; the Hudson Valley Art Association characterized the art as "at best a farce". Simultaneously, the cable suspension roof of the Tent of Tomorrow was constructed at ground level, and workers began installing the roof panels before the roof was raised. The suspension roof was raised to the top of the tent's columns at the end of October, using jacks that lifted the roof 2.5 feet (0.76 m) at
4532-467: The World's Fair, along with the New York State Theater in Manhattan . During the pavilion's development, New York governor Nelson Rockefeller sought to divert funds from the project to the New York State Theater, since the pavilion was originally supposed to be temporary. It was also one of several exhibit spaces in the World's Fair that focused on New York; there were also pavilions for New York City,
4635-496: The canvas of a tent resembled a butterfly's spread wings. The word is from the early 13c., paviloun , "large, stately tent raised on posts and used as a movable habitation," from Old French paveillon "large tent; butterfly" (12c.), from Latin papilionem (nominative papilio ) "butterfly, moth," in Medieval Latin "tent" (see papillon); the type of tent was so called on its resemblance to wings. Meaning "open building in
4738-432: The columns. When the 1964 World's Fair was open, the tops of each column contained two flags, each displaying the names of counties in New York . There were also catwalks leading to the flagpoles. The main floor of the tent had a large-scale Texaco highway map of New York state, made of 567 terrazzo panels. Each panel weighed 400 pounds (180 kg). The panels covered a total area of 9,000 square feet (840 m), and
4841-637: The elevators were left to rot in Flushing. In late 2008, the city government nominated the pavilion for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), allowing the pavilion to receive federal preservation funds. The LPC also considered designating the pavilion as a landmark. The pavilion was added to both the New York State Register of Historic Places and the NRHP in 2009. Robert Silman Associates completed an engineering report on
4944-615: The enclosure; a chain link fence was added around the enclosure after the fair closed. There is also a disused ramp at the western end of the enclosure, which provided access to the bases of each tower. Each observation tower is supported on a reinforced concrete column with steel stairways inside. Each tower's column measures 12 feet (3.7 m) across at its base. Vertical slits divide each column into two sections of equal size, and horizontal beams connect each half of each column. The tallest tower has observation platforms which were once accessed by two "Sky Streak" capsule elevators attached to
5047-850: The fair as part of a $ 6.3 million program to renovate the park, and the Queens Federation of Civic Council also launched a fundraiser to preserve the structure. At a presentation to state legislators in July 1965, Moses proposed that the pavilion be retained as an icon of Queens, similar to how the Eiffel Tower had become an icon of Paris after the Exposition Universelle of 1889. The fair's second and final season ended on October 18, 1965. The World's Fair Corporation mandated that most exhibition buildings in Flushing Meadows Park be demolished within 90 days of
5150-552: The fair's closure, but city officials were negotiating to preserve the New York State and U.S. pavilions. As such, the demolition contracts for the pavilions were postponed. In December 1965, the New York City Board of Estimate voted to preserve the New York State Pavilion, and the state government agreed to spend $ 750,000 upgrading the pavilion to meet New York City building codes . Johnson later recalled that
5253-414: The fair, the Tent of Tomorrow hosted events such as a judo competition. Despite parks commissioner Thomas P. F. Hoving's reluctance to take over ownership of the New York State Pavilion, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) ultimately acquired the pavilion when Flushing Meadows Park was dedicated in June 1967. The pavilion, along with the other remaining World's Fair structures in
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#17327725137315356-460: The fair. Initially, the World's Fair Corporation would not allow any structures higher than 80 feet (24 m) in the fair's federal and state section. After Johnson persisted, the corporation agreed in August 1962 to allow the New York State Pavilion to include taller structures. Details of the New York State Pavilion were announced on October 8, 1962, when Rockefeller drove a deep foundation into
5459-413: The first phase of the restoration was finished. The New York Landmarks Conservancy gave its Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award to the first phase of the restoration. By that October, workers had begun repairing the towers as part of a second phase of the renovation, which was planned to be completed in late 2025. The New York State Pavilion consists of three reinforced concrete -and-steel sets of structures:
5562-415: The floor, the rink's operators, Robert and Chris Jelin, placed a layer of plastic above the floor, and they only used skates with plastic and wooden wheels. Because the rink was an open-air facility, it had to close during the winters. By August, there were calls to convert the rink into a year-round facility, although the rink's operators estimated that the city would have to spend as much as $ 50,000 to build
5665-540: The ground during a groundbreaking ceremony for the pavilion. The structure was to contain a Tent of Tomorrow (also known as the County Fair of the Future) for exhibits and events, a theater called Theaterama, and three observation towers. The state government allocated $ 11 million to the World's Fair, expecting to earn revenue by selling tickets to the pavilion's restaurants and observation deck. Officials estimated that
5768-497: The largest cable suspension roof in the world. When the pavilion was erected, cable-suspended roofs could not be built in other parts of New York City, but the World's Fair was exempt from New York City building code . The city's building code was changed in the mid-1960s, allowing the pavilion to retain its roof, as well as new cable-suspended roofs elsewhere in the city. The cable roof consists of 48 pairs of cables. Each cable measures 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) thick. The cables support
5871-517: The leaders of the Friends of Flushing Meadows group, also circulated a petition to save the pavilion, obtaining 20,000 signatures by that February. The Tent of Tomorrow's roller rink opened in March 1972 and was operating at capacity within three months. People skated directly above the tent's terrazzo floor, prompting concerns that it would deteriorate, and parts of the floor were also covered with cement to accommodate roller skaters. To limit damage to
5974-402: The main floor, and there is a third staircase and an escalator from the northern entrance. There are no stairs leading outside of the Tent of Tomorrow. The wall around the main floor, below the mezzanine level, was composed of red and white panels made of steel or canvas, although they have since been replaced with concrete blocks. There were originally also exhibit spaces under the mezzanine. At
6077-412: The main level, there are entrances from the north, west, and east; all of these are closed off. In the early 1990s, a 125-seat rehearsal room for the Queens Theatre was added within part of the former exhibit space. The columns at the tent's exterior support a cable suspension roof weighing 2,000 short tons (1,800 long tons; 1,800 tonnes). Designed by Zetlin, the cable roof was based on a similar roof at
6180-409: The map had dimensions of 130 by 166 feet (40 by 51 m). The top of the map faced east. Letters denoted various towns and cities, ranging in size from 2 to 12 inches (51 to 305 mm) based on how large the municipality was. There were also motifs of stars, which measured 5 inches (130 mm) across and were made by Texaco. Following severe damage due to neglect and vandalism, the original terrazzo
6283-521: The middle of that year. Each column was built atop 50 deep foundations. Workers constructed the columns by pouring concrete around cylindrical forms that measured 12 feet (3.7 m) across and 3 feet (0.91 m) high. Civil rights groups protested the New York State Pavilion's construction in mid-1963, after a study found that only two of the 68 workers there were African Americans, and they sued in an attempt to halt construction. In October 1963, Johnson hired 10 avant-garde artists to create artwork for
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#17327725137316386-585: The next ten years to renovate the theater and provide an operating and maintenance endowment. The facility became the David H. Koch Theater at the New York City Ballet Winter gala, November 25 of that year. The theater is to bear his name for at least fifty years, after which it may be renamed; the Koch family retains the right of first refusal for any renaming. Some people continue to refer to
6489-540: The observation towers and the Tent of Tomorrow had been locked, though the tent was being used for concerts by the middle of 1969. Led Zeppelin and the Grateful Dead hosted rock concerts in the tent, and the music promoter Bill Graham also booked pop concerts there. The Tent of Tomorrow was temporarily closed in 1970 due to concerns that the plastic roof was decaying. The next year, the Queens Council on
6592-415: The panels. There are three concrete observation towers. The towers have similar widths and materials, differing primarily in their heights and the number of decks. The south tower measures 60 feet (18 metres), the north tower is 150 feet (46 metres), and the west tower is 226 feet (69 metres) high. The shortest tower was a dignitaries' lounge, and the mid-height tower had concession stands. The tallest tower
6695-423: The park, was rededicated in 1968 as part of a proposed cultural center. The Board of Estimate voted to allow Joseph Kutrzeba 's theatrical group, Queens Playhouse, to use the Theaterama in December 1967, and NYC Parks leased the Theaterama to Queens Playhouse the next month. NYC Parks also promised to fund up to $ 200,000 in renovations, and Philip Johnson and theater consultant P. Donald Howard were hired to convert
6798-447: The pavilion as he found it. The Theater in the Park was renovated for $ 150,000 between 1981 and 1982, and the rest of the pavilion was cleaned and repaired during early 1983. The pavilion reopened as a venue for children's entertainment in mid-1983. The city also asked the state and federal governments for money to further renovate the pavilion. During the 1980s, Hoving wanted to raze the tent and towers. A local architect proposed converting
6901-531: The pavilion in March 2016. The competition garnered 250 submissions, which ranged from facetious proposals to those submitted by professional architects. The winning design called for the structures to become a hanging garden; this proposal, and three others, were displayed at the nearby Queens Museum . Two proposals from the contest received New York City's 2018 Annual Awards for Excellence in Design. The city announced in May 2017 that it would spend $ 14.25 million on
7004-479: The pavilion into an aviation museum; although Johnson favored the proposal, several officials called it infeasible. The city announced plans in 2004 to renovate the Theaterama building for $ 5.2 million, adding a new cabaret and entrance hall. The city also wanted to restore the Tent of Tomorrow but did not have enough money. NYC Parks began soliciting proposals for the tent's renovation that year, and it received two formal proposals, both of which were rejected. Work on
7107-417: The pavilion was preserved largely because of the high cost of demolition. Discussions over the future use of the New York State Pavilion and other nearby pavilions continued for months after the World's Fair closed. For example, city officials proposed converting Flushing Meadows into a "sports park" in 1966 and converting the pavilion into a sports venue. but this never happened. In the years immediately after
7210-405: The pavilion would have 12 million to 13 million visitors during the World's Fair, which was to last two years. Revisions to the design continued through early 1963, when the foundations were modified to allow the structures to remain standing for a longer period. In November 1962, fashion firms had asked the state government for permission to stage fashion exhibits in the Tent of Tomorrow, but there
7313-403: The pavilion's restoration in early 2014, though there were still proposals to demolish the structures. Melinda Katz , who became Queens's borough president in 2014, promised to preserve the pavilion and allocated some funds to its renovation that year. The manufacturers of the Tent of Tomorrow's terrazzo map asked NYC Parks to restore the map. The Pavilion Paint Project briefly reopened the tent to
7416-402: The pavilion, and there is a skatepark nearby as well. The adjacent section of the park includes paved pathways centered around the Unisphere. During the 1964 fair, the federal and state exhibits were placed south of the Unisphere, while four other exhibition areas surrounded it. Block 46 was one of the largest plots of land in the federal and state section of the 1964 World's Fair. The pavilion
7519-451: The pavilion. In late 2013, NYC Parks indicated that it would cost $ 73 million to restore the site, as opposed to the $ 14 million cost of demolishing the structure. NYC Parks decided against demolishing the New York State Pavilion due to large amounts of public opposition to demolishing the structures. Other options for the structures included stabilizing the site without public access, which would cost $ 43 million, and stabilizing and reopening
7622-401: The pavilion. Moses and Rockefeller formally opened the World's Fair on April 23, 1964. In his dedication speech, Rockefeller indicated that the pavilion might become a permanent fixture of the park; Moses also wanted the New York State and U.S. pavilions to be preserved. During the opening ceremony, hundreds of civil rights activists organized a sit-in at the pavilion and were arrested. During
7725-454: The plan replaced and reconfigured all seats and carpeting. The reconfiguration created two aisles in the orchestra level, which previously featured continental-style seating, with no center aisles. It also upgraded restrooms to make them ADA compliant. Work backstage included a new stage lighting system, expansion of the orchestra pit, and a mechanical lift in the pit floor allowing it to be raised to stage level when needed. The lobby areas of
7828-414: The preceding season, the New York State Pavilion hosted live entertainment throughout the day. An art exhibit called The City: People and Places was displayed at the New York State Pavilion for the 1965 season; it consisted of 50 pieces created between 1880 and 1958. Absent during the 1965 season were several companies that had hosted fashion shows at the pavilion during the 1964 season. Additionally, though
7931-408: The proposed designation for several years. Many parts of the Tent of Tomorrow's terrazzo floor map were covered with cement and vandalized. The observation towers' stairs were also extensively deteriorated. Henry Stern , the city's park commissioner at the time, described it as "too good to tear down, but not good enough to spend $ 20 million to restore". In late 2001, two Arizona men proposed converting
8034-673: The public for the 50th anniversary of the World's Fair on April 22, 2014, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation named the pavilion as one of its National Treasures that day. At the time, the Pavilion State Pavilion had raised $ 4,000 for restoration; other funding came from the city government (which gave $ 5.8 million) and the New York Mets . The University of Central Florida (UCF) and architectural archive website CyArk began raising $ 15,000 to fund
8137-420: The roof. Jelin proposed spending $ 50,000 to dismantle the roof. The city government approved the rink's reopening on the condition that the roof be removed first, and the Tent of Tomorrow's roof panels were removed in the late 1970s. This left the Queens Playhouse as the pavilion's only occupant. Another rink ultimately opened in 1978 at the World's Fair's former Post Office building. Drums of hazardous waste from
8240-465: The same day. Thirteen fashion magazines staged shows on the Tent of Tomorrow's ramp. At the midpoint of the 1964 season that July, The New York Times reported that the New York State Pavilion was one of the fair's most popular exhibits. Admission to the Theaterama cost 25 cents each, while admission to the observation towers cost 50 cents for adults and 25 cents for children. In the Theaterama's first eight weeks of operation, 200,000 people paid to watch
8343-405: The short film there. By that August, nearly 1.4 million people had ridden the observation towers' elevators. The pavilion closed for the season on October 18, 1964. According to a National Park Service report, toward the end of the 1964 season, nearly one-quarter of all visitors to the World's Fair were recorded as having visited the New York State Pavilion, or about 55,000 people daily. The exhibit
8446-514: The site to the public, which would cost $ 52 million. NYC Parks devised plans to update the equipment systems and rebuild the towers' perimeter walls, and the design firm Perkins + Will created a proposal for the adaptive reuse of the structures. Preservationists founded the People for the Pavilion group in the early 2010s to advocate for the pavilion's restoration. Renewed interest was shown in
8549-408: The structures in 1967 and leased out the Theaterama as a performing-arts theater in 1969. The Tent of Tomorrow briefly served as a concert venue and roller rink in the 1970s, while the observation towers never reopened. After briefly reopening in the 1980s, the Tent of Tomorrow was abandoned through the 21st century. Following years of preservation efforts, the Tent of Tomorrow was repainted in 2014, and
8652-412: The structures underwent rehabilitation starting in 2019. The Tent of Tomorrow is a elliptical structure measuring 250 by 350 feet (76 by 107 m) across, with a cable suspension roof and a terrazzo highway map of New York state on its floor. There are three observation towers, the tallest of which is 226 feet (69 m) high. The Theaterama, a drum-shaped reinforced concrete structure, has housed
8755-545: The tent into a theater in the round , while another proposal called for the pavilion to be renovated into a branch of the National Museum of the American Indian . The Theater in the Park closed in 1985 and stood abandoned for several years. During the same decade, the tent was closed to the public altogether due to safety concerns. The Queens Theatre began performing within the Theaterama in 1989. By then,
8858-419: The tent yellow. Workers spent over 8,000 man-hours on the repainting, which required 1,600 US gallons (6,100 L) of paint. All work was completed by August 2015. By that October, the city was awarding a design contract for the pavilion's structural stabilization and electrical upgrades. People for the Pavilion and the National Trust for Historic Preservation launched an international ideas competition for
8961-470: The theater by its original name because of the controversial political influencing of David and Charles Koch . The theater seats 2,586 and features broad seating on the orchestra level, four main “Rings” (balconies) and a small Fifth Ring, faced with jewel-like lights and a large spherical chandelier in the center of the gold latticed ceiling. JCJ Architecture of New York City designed renovations with Schuler Shook as theater consultants. In patron areas,
9064-399: The theater needed extensive structural repairs; the roof had a hole in it, and the walls were covered in graffiti. The Queens Theatre's director also said at the time that the Theaterama building was used by squatters and that it was missing doors. Although there were various proposals to reopen the towers, they were rejected due to the high cost of restoration. The map in the Tent of Tomorrow
9167-592: The three towers and the Tent of Tomorrow; at the time, the design phase was supposed to be completed in early 2020. Work on the project started in November 2019. Jan Hird Pokorny Associates designed the renovation, while the engineering firm Silman was the main engineer. As part of the project, the original electrical wiring was replaced to accommodate a mobile command center for the New York City Police Department . The suspension cables in
9270-413: The time, the World's Fair Corporation had already created preliminary plans for structures on Block 46. Although the structures were initially meant to be temporary, Moses and Johnson had agreed to create a permanent theater for the site by June 1962. Another change to the original plans was the addition of observation towers, since Rockefeller wanted the New York State Pavilion to be the tallest structure in
9373-409: The top and bottom of each pair of cables. The outer girders are connected to the reinforced-concrete columns by steel brackets. The entire roof was covered by multicolored translucent plastic panels, which were fastened to the cables. The plastic panels were manufactured in one shade of blue and three shades of red. In total, there were 1,400 or 1,500 panels. There were also 800 spotlights mounted above
9476-488: The tower. One elevator was a local elevator that served the other two towers, while the other elevator ran nonstop from ground level to the tallest tower. The elevator shafts are located opposite each other: the nonstop elevator was on the western side of the tallest tower, while the local elevator was to the east. The elevator shafts were removed in 2008, but there are steel tracks in each elevator shaft, which remain in place. Each tower has roof beams, which extend outward from
9579-436: The towers are illuminated by multicolored lighting at night. Due to Federal Aviation Administration requirements, the tallest tower also has an aviation obstruction light . Pavilion The word is from French pavillon ( Old French paveillon ) and it meant a small palace, from Latin papilionem ( accusative of papilio ). In Late Latin and Old French, it meant both ‘butterfly’ and ‘tent’, because
9682-405: Was also air-conditioning equipment in the southern tower. The towers' roof beams, along with large portions of the decks themselves, still survive, while other parts of each tower (like interior finishes) have been removed. When the 1964 World's Fair was open, there were blue lights atop the roofs and along the central columns of each tower, as well as under the roof of the northern tower. As of 2023,
9785-504: Was also deteriorating. By the late 20th century, the tent and towers were completely abandoned, and one of the towers' elevators was stuck in midair. The Theaterama was renovated beginning in 1992, and the project was completed in October 1993 for $ 4 million. The project was designed by Alfredo De Vido and included a new lobby and entrance, as well as upgrades to the mechanical systems, catwalk, stage, seating, and rehearsal spaces. Part of
9888-470: Was also the highest structure at the World's Fair; its height is restricted by the presence of LaGuardia Airport nearby. On clear days, visitors could see large parts of the New York metropolitan area and the Atlantic Ocean from the tallest tower. The towers rise from a single, circular base made of concrete, surrounded by a concrete enclosure. Originally, there was a railing and lighting along
9991-796: Was built with funds from the State of New York as part of New York State's cultural participation in the 1964–1965 World's Fair . The theater was designed by architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee , opened on April 23, 1964. After the Fair, the State transferred ownership of the theater to the City of New York. The City leases the theater to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc., which subleases it to City Center of Music and Drama, Inc. (CCMD). The present corporation of CCMD (originally affiliated with New York City Center on 55th Street, but now
10094-522: Was conducted during the late 1990s. The New York City Department of Design and Construction hired Caples Jefferson Architects in 2000 to renovate the Theaterama, and planning for that project continued for several years. By then, preservationists wanted the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) to designate the structures as a city landmark, though the commission did not hold hearings on
10197-534: Was initial uncertainty about whether these companies would use the New York State Pavilion or get their own pavilion. The state government allowed fashion companies from New York to use the pavilion in 1963, after Wilson asked the New York State Commission on the World's Fair to make space for the fashion exhibits. Wilson opposed the addition of some other exhibits (such as those themed to parole and correction), saying that he did not want to create
10300-521: Was reluctant to allocate a $ 4.6 million appropriation to complete the pavilion, but eventually granted the appropriation. The cost increases prompted an investigation from Louis J. Lefkowitz , the state's attorney general, who looked into the records of several hundred subcontractors. The Tent of Tomorrow hosted concerts, and it was one of two locations (along with the Better Living Center) where fashion shows were staged. The main level had
10403-413: Was replaced with a layer of methacrylate starting in 2019. A small number of the original terrazzo tiles have been preserved. Several small planters were originally also placed around the map. A mezzanine surrounds the main floor. This level has an asphalt floor, blue spherical lamps, steel railings along its inner and outer perimeters. Stairs lead up to the mezzanine from the western and eastern sides of
10506-557: Was reportedly the World's Fair's third-most-popular pavilion, which also made it a frequent location for civil rights protests. In early 1965, Moses wrote to the Mayor's Committee on the Future of Flushing Meadow, asking them to retain the New York State Pavilion after the World's Fair ended; most of the fair's other structures were to be demolished. Moses proposed converting the pavilion to a concert venue and recreational facility. That March,
10609-414: Was selected in 1959 for the 1964 New York World's Fair . Gilmore David Clarke and Michael Rapuano, designers of the original World's Fair layout, were retained to tailor the original 1939 park layout for the new fair. New York City parks commissioner Robert Moses was president of the World's Fair Corporation, which leased the park from the city until 1967, after the fair's completion. Moses had proposed
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