The Auditorium at 66 West 12th Street (A 106)
Details
- Address: Alvin Johnson/J.M. Kaplan Hall, 66 West 12th Street, New York, NY 10011-8603
- Room #: A 106
- Style: Auditorium
- Max Capacity:
468 - Area: 2980.43 ft2
- Availability: 25Live (must be logged into 25Live to access the link)
- Seating Chart: Seating Chart
- Equipment: Piano, LCD projector and screen, digital cinema projector (Christie Solaria One) with surround sound
Pardon Our Dust
While we wait for the formal restoration to commence, Safety & Facilities is committed to ensuring the health and safety of our patrons, performers, and community. If you are planning an event in the space, please take the below into consideration:
- The current capacity is 415 to account for seats that are out of order, which is reflected in 25Live.
- Seats that are out of order have a chair cover and signage. Please submit a NetFacilities work order if you notice a new seat that needs to be assessed.
Continue reading below for information on the renovation project and follow this card for updates.
2026-2027 Restoration Project
As part of our ongoing commitment to preserving and enhancing the university’s building assets, The New School has been awarded a generous grant from the New York City Economic Development Corp (EDC) to be used for the renovation of The Auditorium at 66 W. 12th St. ( ‘Old Tishman’ Auditorium). This grant will allow us to restore the historic auditorium and preserve its landmark status while also making necessary improvements to upgrade and enhance the venue’s facilities. The renovation project will begin in May of 2026 and last through summer, 2027.
For questions, please contact the departments below.
- Renovation & Space questions: facilitiesmanagement@newschool.edu
- Class scheduling questions: registrar@newschool.edu
- Events scheduling questions: adhocroomrequests@newschool.edu
Why Renovate?
The extensive renovation will enable us to restore historic architectural elements and seating while improving the facility itself by upgrading the facility’s sound, lighting, and HVAC systems. Completing this work will enable us to continue offering quality events, performances, and programs in line with the university’s mission and upholding our reputation as a preeminent center for creative and intellectual excellence.
Project Funding
The total cost of the project is $3.5 million. The New School has been awarded a $1.75 million grant from the New York City Council to fund this project. The university has also applied for additional grant funding from the New York State Senate.
As of January, 2025, the university is in consideration for a third grant from the New York State Assembly. This grant, in addition to the potential funds from the New York State Senate, would reduce the university’s costs by an additional $1 million. In order to reduce university costs, this project was rescheduled to start in May of 2026 instead.
Scope of Work
The scope of work on this project involves:
- Replacing the seating to match the original design
- Replacing the flooring
- Painting walls and replacing latticework of the ceiling
- Upgraded HVAC system for improved energy efficiency
- Abatement
Timeline
The project is slated to begin after Commencement in May, 2026 and last through summer, 2027 in order to reopen the space for fall orientation in 2027.
Project Leaders
Teams in Design & Construction, Environmental Health & Safety, Facilities, and Venue Leasing are collaborating to execute this project.
A working group has also been formed to assist with change management and to help find ways to reduce the impact to academic and non-academic activities that utilize this space. This group includes representatives from the colleges as well as Business & Operations, the Provost’s Office, and the Registrar’s Office.