5 minute read
Reviving an Icon
The Renovation of the Delacorte Theater
By Parker Allen
Much like the performances at the Delacorte Theater, the story of its renovation is a play in several acts.
Fade in: the project origin and the progress thus far.
On the west side of Central Park, just north of Turtle Pond, stands the Delacorte Theater. Built in 1962, the venue is most well-known for hosting The Public Theater’s Shakespeare in the Park every summer.
Notable actors to have graced the stage include James Earl Jones, George C. Scott, Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline and many others.
As the Duke of Gloucester remarked in Shakespeare’s Henry VI, Part 3, “Much rain wears the marble.” Sixty years on, the theater’s “marble” was worn, and, in 2023, New York City began a major renovation with 21st century technology.
Yorke Construction is the main contractor.
This marks their second major remodel of the Delacorte, the first dating back to the 1970s.
Yorke hired two electrical contractors, the first being Team Electric, who is responsible for the main power supply.
The second was NALMCO member Candela Systems Corporation, who was awarded the contract for all internal electrical works, including lighting, HVAC systems, and installation of a state-of-the-art theatrical dimming system. For this, they partnered with RKL Lighting
At the project’s outset, James Bernardo, CLMC, CLCP, CLEP, LC, Candela’s CEO and Founder, immediately reached out to Bob Kliegl of RKL, a local independent dealer/distributor with extensive experience in lighting controls. Their 20-year relationship and previous collaborations on projects such as the Julliard School for the Arts provided the kind of familiarity and trust necessary on a project of this size and complexity.
Upon learning of the project, Kliegl thought to himself, “We have to get this project. It is meant to be.”
But why “meant to be?”
Bob Kliegl is the latest in a long line of Kliegl lighting experts. He is the great-great-great-grandson of one of the founders of Kliegl Brothers Universal Electric Stage Lighting Company, the original creators of the Delacorte's dimming system in the early 20th century. The Kliegl Brothers' innovations, particularly the "Klieglight," revolutionized stage lighting and left an enduring mark on the industry.
THE RETROFIT
The lighting transformation at the Delacorte involves the installation of 432 step lights, additional backstage lighting, and extensive lighting on and around the stage/seating areas. Eight theatrical towers around the theater, coupled with a main truss system behind the grandstand, ensure comprehensive stage illumination.
The original dimmers installed by Kliegl Brothers were operational until the theater shut down for renovation.
The new dimming system boasts the latest technology from ETC Connect and operates using the DMX512 protocol.
TIMELINE
Candela arrived onsite in October 2023 to begin disconnecting existing lighting and electrical systems. The excavation and plumbing teams spent the next six months digging up and laying new pipes. This period allowed Candela to design an intricate building information model (BIM) of the site, as the Delacorte required every aspect of the project to be shown on BIM prior to installation.
Candela returned to the site in April 2024 to lay conduit beneath the stage and grandstand. Bernardo elaborated, “We are talking thousands of feet of conduit, in all sizes, under the ground beneath the grandstand. We are trying to make sure that we get as much in, because the real estate underneath the grand stand is very limited.”
With much of the below-ground work complete, the above-ground work is now in progress with plans for the theater to reopen in Spring 2025.
CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS
Bernardo highlighted some of the unique challenges –and solutions – they have devised.
One problem that proved particularly tricky was the step lights, which were to be wired together using 10 gauge wire. The original splice boxes on the back of step lights, with wire in and out, wouldn’t fit in the provided space while still satisfying code.
The solution? With Kliegl’s help, Bernardo and his team constructed custom stainless steel boxes that fit within the required space and house all the wiring.
The location of the Delacorte created another challenge. In Central Park, every tree is protected. Their size and location are documented, and a broken tree branch can result in a fine for the responsible party.
Furthermore, all of this work is taking place in someone else’s home. Or rather, something else’s home.
The Delacorte is home to a sizeable raccoon population, and the city considers the space between grandstand and stage to be their natural habitat.
When they first arrived onsite, the Candela team called local animal control, who explained that they could remove the raccoons for the day, but they would have to bring them back that night.
For a project of this duration, this solution wasn’t feasible.
So the team has learned to work with their four-legged companions. When they arrive each morning, they knock on the wall adjacent to the raccoon habitat. The raccoons will leave for another part of the theater and then return after the crew has left for the evening.
Unexpected challenges require innovative solutions.
LOOKING AHEAD
Despite these obstacles, Candela, RKL Lighting and ETC have ensured that this historic venue will continue to enchant audiences with cutting-edge technology and timeless charm.
Stay tuned! As the Delacorte moves closer to reopening, LM&M will bring you the next act in the performance of this beloved Central Park icon.
