New York State Theater Will Be Re-Named for David H. Koch
By Adam Hetrick
10 Jul 2008
Lincoln Center will rename the New York State Theater – home of New York City Ballet and New York City Opera – for business executive and philanthropist David H. Koch.
Koch's gift of $100 million dollars marks half of the $200 million capital campaign for the State Theater's renovation project that will provide new seats and carpets, an enlarged orchestra pit with a mechanical lift, a new stage lighting system, and new audiovisual and media capability.
In honor of Koch's gift – the largest private capital donation in the history of Lincoln Center – the State Theater will be renamed the David H. Koch Theater later this fall.
"New York City Ballet and New York City Opera are anchors of Lincoln Center, which I believe is the most important performing arts destination in the world," Koch said in a statement. "The two companies are both champions of American art on the world stage and I am thrilled to be able to contribute toward their continued success, and to be associated with the cultural landmark where they perform."
Funded in a private and public venture with the City of New York, Lincoln Center currently anticipates substantial completion of the renovations by October of 2009.
Designed in 1964 by Philip Johnson, the renovations will maintain the original architecture of the theatre that was created for George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein and the New York City Ballet. The New York State Theater opened on April 23, 1964.
David H. Koch, the executive vice president of Kansas-based Koch Industries, Inc. (known for Stainmaster® carpet, Lycra® spandex) has pledged and contributed more than $500 million dollars to causes including cancer research, as well as funding for educational and arts institutions. Koch serves on numerous non-profit boards, including American Ballet Theatre, American Museum of Natural History, Aspen Institute, WGBH Boston, The Cato Institute, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Hospital for Special Surgery, The Rockefeller University, WNET-Channel 13, and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
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