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Bang! Boom! Crash! Reconstruction of 65th Street BeginsNo sooner had the 2006 graduates been handed their diplomas at last May's commencement, officially ending Juilliard's monumental centennial year, than another mammoth project began: the reconstruction of the Juilliard building and the redevelopment of West 65th Street. Over the course of the summer, construction workers replaced students in the hallways, and the percussive sounds of jackhammers and bulldozers were heard instead of violins, pianos, and drums.
Staff members who worked during July and August witnessed the beginnings of the transformation that will take place in and around Juilliard over the coming years. The area in front of Alice Tully Hall resembled a war zone, as trees were cut down, sidewalks cordoned off, the stairs removed, and a huge crater dug. Around the corner, Milstein Plaza was systematically dismantled. Meanwhile, inside Juilliard, walls came down (and went up), and new office spaces seemed to appear overnight, like mushrooms in a damp forest. Finding one's way around the building—a challenge even under the best of circumstances—became an interesting exercise as familiar landmarks disappeared. The photographs on this page are but a few examples of what was witnessed around the building.
In each issue of The Journal throughout the duration of the building project we will highlight some of the key construction activities that will affect students, faculty, staff members, and other visitors to Juilliard. Full details can be found on our Web site at www.juilliard.edu/construction.
What to Expect in September/October
- Continuation of work in the two fifth-floor courtyards, creating the "shells" of teaching studios and the new orchestra rehearsal room that will occupy these spaces in 2009, and "fitting out" the many temporary classrooms, studios, and offices for more immediate use during the construction period.
- Completion of excavation work in front of Alice Tully Hall and preparation in that area for the building of Juilliard's cantilevered extension.
- Announcement of a schedule of various renovation information sessions, offering students, faculty, and staff opportunities to learn more about different aspects of the renovation.
- Preparation for the relocation of all classrooms, studios, and offices on the far east (Broadway) side of the building. This move is scheduled to take place in December 2006-early January 2007.
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