NYCEDC – CP NARRATIVE OF SCOPE
For Renovation/New Construction Funding Agreements
Project Name:
Address:
BBL:
NYCEDC Project Manager:
NYC Attorney:
Appropriation FY:
City Budget Line(s)
FMS ID:
FA Amount:
Total Project Cost:
A.
Vivian Beaumont Theater HVAC Units 19 & 21 Replacement
150 West 65TH Street, New York, NY 10023
FY2021
PV-DN820 $545K, PV-MN820 $100K, PV-0N820 $39K
126 PV820HVAC
$684,000
$1,180,251
ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND AND MISSION
In 250 words of fewer, provide a brief history of the organization and the organization’s corporate
status, mission, main areas of programming, location(s), and population(s) served.
Re-established as a 501(c)(3) in 1985, The Vivian Beaumont Theater, Inc. has created and sustained a
theater of the highest artistic standards, producing the work of established as well as emerging
American and international playwrights, and reconsidered revivals of world classics. The most
accomplished artists working in the theater regularly appear on our stages. VBT’s program of plays and
musicals are presented at the Vivian Beaumont, Mitzi E. Newhouse, and Claire Tow Theaters, and
frequently overflow to Broadway houses. Still guided by our originating motto, “Good Plays, Popular
Prices,” VBT aims to engage a diverse audience drawn by affordable tickets to shows of notable
distinction that reflect New York City’s many cultures and communities.
VBT’s core audience is its 28,000 Members and 92,000 LincTix members (21- to 35-year-olds)
augmented by the general public from the metropolitan tri-state area. Annual audiences range from
200,000 to 600,000 per season, depending upon the number of weeks its production engagements
perform. Over 35 years, some 15.3 million attendees have seen more than 25,500 performances of 207
plays and musicals under the Theater’s aegis. In addition to its mainstage production series, VBT’s
annual activities include: LCT3 for new artists and new audiences; the Open Stages education program
for New York City public-school students and teachers, the Lincoln Center Theater Review, a literary
journal; the Directors Lab for emerging directors; the Playwrights Program to help develop new work
with readings and workshops.
B.
PROJECT TIMELINE
Design
Start Date:
N/A (IN-KIND REPLACEMENT)
End Date:
Construction
Start Date:
End Date:
C.
January 2021
March 2021
CONSTRUCTION SCOPE OF WORK
Provide a cohesive, detailed description of the project, including:
 Existing Conditions:
o
Provide a walkthrough of the existing space (if applicable), including the current use
of space, its problems/needs, and the overall problem(s) that the renovation/new
construction project will fix (e.g., space does not suit the organization’s current needs
– it is too small; it is not ADA-accessible).
The Vivian Beaumont Theater, Inc. is housed on the Lincoln Center campus in a building constructed in
1965. The Beaumont complex is equipped with 10 HVAC units. In 1996, the eight units serving
performance spaces and public areas were replaced and installed with a modern building-management
system. This system allows the Engineering Department to program, monitor, and control the units
from their central office, or remotely if necessary.
The two units that were not replaced had been refurbished or enhanced in 1992. HVAC Unit 19 serves
the West 65th Street-level administrative offices, a suite intended for a staff half the current size.
Further, the unit was built before the advent of heat-generating desktop computers used in every office
and at every workstation. Cooling in the Beaumont complex is achieved by running chilled water from
the Lincoln Center plant. The remedy at HVAC 19 was to add a compressor that provides additional
cooling using a refrigerant when chilled water could not meet demand. The compressor for HVAC 19
required R22 refrigerant, which the Environmental Protection Agency banned (effective as of 1/1/20).
The refrigerant ban notwithstanding, the compressor unit has exceeded its useful life and has been
decommissioned.
HVAC Unit 21 serves the Vivian Beaumont Theater (VBT) orchestra pit and Large Rehearsal Room. Both
the pit and the rehearsal room did not exist before 1992 when the current administration undertook a
capital project to reconfigure the spaces under the VBT stage to accommodate them. This renovation
required the rerouting of the ducts serving the areas. In the process, HVAC Unit 21 was retrofitted to
replace worn components.

Proposed Work:
o Provide a description of the work that will be done to address problems/needs, how it
will impact the organization, where the work will take place, and how the new space
will function.
Fifty-three years after their installation, and 25 years after retrofitting and enhancement, HVAC Units 19
and 21 are well past their useful life. To handle the heat load throughout the office suite, the new HVAC
Unit 19 will be equipped with chilled water, eliminating the need for an energy-wasting compressor. A
study by Edison Energy to analyze the air-circulation issues in the administrative offices concluded that
HVAC Unit 19 is undersized at its current 6,500 CFM supply and return. The new unit will be upsized to
10,000 CFM to provide the offices with robust circulation. HVAC Unit 21 cannot be zoned separately to
achieve different climate settings in the Large Rehearsal Room and the orchestra pit. Nor can it be
controlled for humidity. Because humidity levels affect musical instruments and equipment, the ability
for engineers to make separate adjustments is especially important in the orchestra pit.
HVAC Units 19 and 21 are equipped with old-fashioned pneumatic controls, requiring engineers to
manage and administer their operation at the units. The new HVAC units will be incorporated into VBT’s
digital building-management system, which will improve work efficiency by allowing engineers to
monitor and adjust the units’ coverage areas at a local or remote terminal. Both new units will also
utilize variable-speed drives that modulate airflow by ramping back fan-speed when possible, thereby
reducing energy consumption. As staff returns to the offices and artistic companies reassemble in the
Large Rehearsal Room, enhanced capabilities for the control and monitoring of air circulation are key to
providing a healthy work environment.

Project Information:
o Provide a breakdown of trades/line items listed in the budget, describe how they
relate to the overall project, and identify which portions are City-funded.
o Include any supplemental documentation that will help visualize the project, including
drawings, photographs, and renderings.
SITEWORK: The work area within VBT’s mechanical-equipment room will be sealed off to protect other
HVAC units and equipment located in the vicinity. Should it be required, asbestos will be abated per EPA
regulations. Pneumatic air lines will be cut back and terminated at source. Steam and chilled-water
lines will be shut down and stop-valves installed.
HVAC Units 19 & 21 will be dismantled and removed via the base building freight elevator. Any
materials too large to be accommodated will be loaded out through the VBT stage hoist (Local 1 crew
call required). At HVAC Units 19 & 21 tie-ins, limited amount of ductwork will also be removed.
New HVAC Units 19 & 21 will be loaded in through the VBT stage hoist (Local 1 crew call required).
$10,973
CONCRETE: Dimensions for the concrete pad on which HVAC Unit 21 sits will be adjusted to
accommodate the new unit.
$2,178
FINISHES: Pads for both units will be painted, and the surrounding floors sealed.
$3,960
HVAC: Supply and install one HVAC Package Unit to replace HVAC Unit 21, 14,300 CFM supply and
return ($443,400). Supply and install one HVAC Custom Unit to replace HVAC Unit 19, upsized to 10,000
CFM supply and return from 6,500 CFM supply and return ($524,000). HVAC Unit 19 requires a custom
stacked configuration due to space limitations at its location in the mechanical equipment room. HVAC
Units 19 & 21 will be assembled and leveled; ducts will be tied in and insulated. HVAC contractor cost
includes demo, rigging, sheet metal and piping, variable-speed drives, building-management-system
equipment and programming, permits, engineering, and all associated labor.
$1,064,140
ELECTRICAL: To service the new upsized Unit 19, its 50-year-old cables and breakers that feed power to
unit will be replaced and upgraded; new conduit and wire will also be installed. New disconnect
switches will be provided for Units 19 & 21. Power will be brought to the variable-speed drives for each
unit. Fire-alarm sensors will be installed, programmed, and tested at each unit.
$99,000
SUBTOTAL: $1,180,251
CONTINGENCY: $118,025
TOTAL: $1,298,276

Apportionment:
o If a portion of the space at the listed address will be used by entities other than the
Funding Recipient for their own purpose(s), please describe the other entities, which
spaces and how they will be used. Inform the project manager if this is the case.
N/A
D.
PROJECT FUNDING
List all funding sources for the project.
Funding Source
Non-City Funding Source
Non-City Funding Source
Non-City Funding Source
Non-City Funding Source
Non-City Funding Source
Total Non-City
Contribution
Funding Agreement
Amount
Total Project Cost
E.
Program
Description
HVAC
Replacement
HVAC
Replacement
HVAC
Replacement
HVAC
Replacement
HVAC
Replacement
HVAC
Replacement
HVAC
Replacement
HVAC
Replacement
Funding
Amount
Status/Restrictions
$100,000
SECURED
$226,800
SECURED
$100,000
SECURED
$49,500
SECURED
$137,976
TO BE RAISED
$614,276
SECURED/TO BE RAISED
$684,000
SECURED
$1,298,276
SECURED/TO BE RAISED
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Who owns the property?
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc.

If the Funding Recipient does not own the property, what is the relationship between owner and
Funding Recipient?
The Vivian Beaumont Theater, Inc. currently holds a 25-year lease (expires 2032, with an option to
renew for another 24-year term) to the Vivian Beaumont Theater complex. In lieu of rental payments,
the organization is responsible for all maintenance, repairs, and capital improvements.

Is title clear?


If not, what are the liens, and what is the plan to subordinate them to the City’s lien?
Describe how the completed project will be maintained, including the responsible parties and any
anticipated maintenance issues/agreements.
Yes
The new HVAC Unit 19 will provide 10,000 CFM return and supply; HVAC Unit 21 will be capable of
providing 14,300 CFM return and supply. Both will come equipped with variable-speed drives,
temperature sensors, drive-current sensor, fire/smoke damper-status sensors, and chilled-water flow
meters. The HVAC units will meet current energy-efficiency standards and allow for connection to VBT’s
existing digital building-management system.
VBT’s Facilities and Engineering Departments have had over 20 years’ experience operating and
maintaining systems equivalent to the one being purchased and installed. Personnel in both
departments have extensive knowledge of the equipment and its controls.

Describe any special project considerations, if applicable (e.g., historical restoration project that
requires a larger contingency because of unpredictable existing conditions).
LCT staff members are presently scheduled to return to the offices no earlier than March 2021.
Productions are on hold, and will resume in fall 2021, if New York City theaters are allowed to open at
that time. Completing the work by the end of March 2021 would allow the project to proceed
expeditiously as LCT’s offices and theaters would be unoccupied.

Does the Green Building Standards Law apply to the project?

If yes, what standard is the Funding Recipient required to meet and why? If no, please explain
why.
No
The budget for the project does not meet the threshold of $2 million for HVAC work covered by the
Green Buildings Standards Law.
F.
CITY CAPITAL APPLICATION
Is the project consistent with the original application submitted to the City? If not please explain
why.
The initial project for which VBT requested $1,507,000 in support from the FY20 City Capital Budget
entailed the replacement of HVAC Units 19 and 21. After receiving $500,000, VBT amended the project
to focus solely on the replacement of HVAC Unit 21. VBT subsequently received $145,000 from the FY21
City Capital Budget for the replacement of HVAC Unit 19. With that allocation secured, coupled with the
receipt of additional private funds, VBT has reverted to the project’s original scope. We are actively
seeking the additional private funds needed to complete this vital capital project; VBT will utilize general
operating funds if it becomes necessary.