Overview

Board of Officers

Company D & E Rooms

Drill Hall

PBDW has been working with the Armory since 2006 to bring it back to life as a vibrant visual and performing arts venue, completing numerous phased projects. Built in 1881, the Veterans Room is among the most valuable heritage assets in the United States and a key part of the Armory. PBDW, in collaboration with Herzog & de Meuron, meticulously restored this historic gem, deftly installed new infrastructure, and allowed the room to showcase its artistry in a fresh, new light.

This project required the skillful integration of modern infrastructure while maintaining, respecting, and rehabilitating the room’s intricate historic fabric. Through careful study, ingenuity, and close coordination with craftsmen, we concealed and blended major space-consuming infrastructure, such as ductwork and acoustical isolation measures, behind and into the historic finishes. We introduced new, visible room lighting and theatrical technology to complement and enhance the original architecture, which was carefully restored.

These interventions transformed the room into a stunning, cutting-edge performance venue. The refreshed Veterans Room can readily host a variety of gatherings, performances, and art installations. Integrated lighting and audio-visual infrastructure make room setup easier and facilitate a wide variety of configurations. New lighting and A/V controls permit more sophisticated programming and easier change of atmosphere during events. The completed room meets an NC-25 acoustic rating and is LEED Silver®.

Palladio Award, Traditional Building Magazine, 2017

Interior Restoration Award, FRIENDS of the Upper East Side Historic Districts, 2017

The International Association of Lighting Designers Award, 2017

Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, NY Chapter, 2017

“Broadway Will Be a While. These Venues Say They’re Ready Now.” The New York Times
“Gilded Age Gem: The Veterans Room at the New York Armory,” Traditional Building
“The Gilded Age Glows Again at the Park Avenue Armory’s Veterans Room,” The New York Times
“Ornate Peek at a Refreshed Gilded Age,” The New York Times
“Herzog & de Meuron restores a Park Avenue Armory room designed by Louis C Tiffany,” Dezeen
“The most beautiful interiors in New York City, mapped,” Curbed New York
“A Glittering Restoration of the Park Avenue Armory’s Veterans Room, with a Modern Touch,” Hyperallergic
“Herzog & de Meuron renovates the Armory’s Veterans Room to its original 19th century aplomb,” The Architect’s Newspaper