Coney's Potato Chip Amphitheater Revealed
The Architects Newspaper is out this week with some new renderings from Grimshaw Architects of the Coney Island Amphitheater slated for Asser Levy Park. The 8,000-seat theatre has been a priority for Brooklyn Borough President since he announced it in 2007. Replacing Asser Levy’s antiquated band shell with a state-of-the-art one will ensure that free…
The Architects Newspaper is out this week with some new renderings from Grimshaw Architects of the Coney Island Amphitheater slated for Asser Levy Park. The 8,000-seat theatre has been a priority for Brooklyn Borough President since he announced it in 2007. Replacing Asser Levy’s antiquated band shell with a state-of-the-art one will ensure that free community programming—it was used for 45 different community events last year—remains in Coney Island, the beep said through a spokesperson. Moreover, it will be a key component of a revitalized Coney Island for the community and visitors in the days ahead. The hallmark of the new theater’s design is its “potato chip” roof. It’s like a bicycle wheel with a massive steel rim and a ring at the middle for a hub, said Grimshaw partner Mark Husser. The $47 million project is still on track to start construction after this summer’s concert series ends.
Coney’s New Big Top [Architect’s Newspaper]
Coney Island’s New Concert Venue [Curbed]
Community Concerns About Marty’s Coney Concert Space [Brownstoner]
An Amphitheater for Coney Island? [Brownstoner]
In fairness, Marty has occasionally brought in some pretty good talent. Willie Nelson tore the place up a few years back, and Wayne Newton had the Ocean Parkway octogenarians writhing in ecstacy in their lawn chairs
That’s right Brenda, and he got the taxpayers to pay for it.
Looks like Manic Musical Marty finally has his Impresario Dome. Ever seen him intro his concert series here? He is so totally into it, he shoulda been a concert promoter. He even revels in the redemptive power of the program on the semi-cheesy, semi-forgotten (and occasionally, brilliant-if-in-decline) talent he books. One night as he rambled on, he said, “You know, we should get Kenny Rogers. Yeah. Kenny’s ready for us; he just doesn’t know it yet.” It was a spot-on assessment.
I think this amphitheater looks pretty snazzy… though, they never look as cool when built. Usually due to “value engineering” and reality sinking in.
Hope there’s a railing around the edge. The first step is a doozy!