Theatre Design & Technology - May 1970 - 12

BROADWAY REFASHIONED . ..

responsive to the needs of the district;
b) That ample and appropriate facilities are
included to support legitimate theatre
operati ons;
c) That open spaces, arcades, sub-surface
concourses and subway improvements
and connections are provided to ease congestion in the area by aiding in the circulation of pedestrians and vehicles;
d)' That amenities appropriate and useful to
the Special Theatre District are provided; and
e) That distribution of the bulk of the total
development permits adequate access of
light and air to surrounding streets and
properties.

AUDITORIUM STANDARDS
SEATING:
SEAT WIDTH
Minimum average width 20.75"
Minimum width
20.00"
ROW SPACING
Minimum

1. The premises shall be developed in size
and arrangement substantially as proposed and as indicated on the plans filed
with this application, providing for a
maximum FAR of 20.8.

Shall be provided on the minimum basis
of:
1 water closet or urinal per 50 seats
1 washbasin per 70 seats

33" back
to
back
of rows

Where necessary to pass morethan
seven chairs to reach nearest aisle,
add 3/8" for each additional chair.
Where a difference in floor level
occurs between any two rows, the
spacing shall be increased as follows: '

After thorough review of all the factors
involved, the Commission finds that there
is justification to increase the permitted
floor area ratio to 20.8 as requested by
the applicant and to modify the height,
setback and tower regulations as requested. Consequently the City Planning
Commission approves the application,
subject to the conditions enumerated in
the following resolution:
RESOLVED, by the City Planning Commission that the application of Uris Capitol
Corporation for the grant of a special permit
involving modifications of the height, setback and tower regulations pursuant to
Section 74-72 of the Zoning Resolution and
authorization to increase the permitted floor
area ratio to 20.8 pursuant to Section
81-06 of the Zoning Resol uti on as shown
on plans filed with this application, for a
proposed development on a zoning lot located on the west side of Broadway from
West 50 Street to West 51 Street, Borough of Manhattan, be and hereby is approved subject to the following conditions:

TOILET FACILITIES

Difference in Level lin.)
6-11
11-17
17-23
23 and over

ELEVATOR FACILITIES
There shall be elevator access to all seating levels.
STAGE AND BACKSTAGE AREAS
Areas and facilities shall conform to the
following "Standards based on Actors'
Equity Association recommended optimum specifications for stage and backstage facilities for use by architects and
builders in construction and renovation
of theatres":
BACKSTAGE ENTRANCE

Increase in Row Spacing lin.)

2
3
4
PUBLIC SPACES
INTERIOR STANDING SPACE
Minimum 4 square feet per seat readily
accessible for audience use at intermission, exclusive of:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

There shall be at least 1 men's and 1
women's toilet room per seating level.

Bar and attendant service facilities.
Toilet facilities.
Ticket sale facilities.
Checking facilities.
Minimum legally required circulation,
halls and stairs.

CHECKING FACILITIES
Shall be provided for at least 30 per cent
of the seats.

a) Lighting-stage entrance-The areaway to and the actual stage door entrance through which the Actors enter
the theatre from the street should be
well lit, free of obstruction and surfaced with a nonskid material. The
stage door should be located a sufficient distance from the stage to eliminate possible interference of street
noise, telephone, drafts, etc., with
on-stage activity.
b) Room for stage door attendant just
inside the stage door entrance.
c) Mail Box-This should be placed in an
area near the stage door which is
handy for the company.
d) Bulletin Board-This should be accessible near the mail box and should be
easy to see.

2. The development shall comply with all
applicable provisions of the Zoning Resolution except for the modifications herein
granted, as indicated on the plans filed
with this application.
3. The premises shall be developed as indicated on the plans so as to include two
legitimate theatres: one of not less than
1,600 seats nor more than 1,800 seats,
the other of not less than 350 seats nor
more than 650 seats; designed to the
following standards and specifications:

In the Uris Capitol Building, theatre
designer Ralph A Is wang has stressed
"maximum flexibility," including a
stage which can serve as both proscenium and thrust.

THEATER DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

MAY, 1970

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