Prize(s) Honorable Mentions
Company Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design
Lead Designers Stephen D. Bernstein
Other Designer's names Clara Samudio; Lindsay Arensberg (formerly with CBBLD)
Client La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club
Photo Credits John Bartelstone Photography
Other Credits Beyer Blinder Belle Architects (Architect)
Completion Date March 2023
Project Location New York, NY
Entry DescriptionLa MaMa is a renowned off-off Broadway theater in New York City, acclaimed for its inclusive, multicultural approach to the arts.
Housed in a stand-alone building, the new theater extends the group’s community engagement. For the historic façade’s night imagery, lights installed at each windowsill reveal a captivating street presence after dark. The solution fulfils NYC Landmarks’ strict requirements for concealed exterior lighting fixtures.
Subtle downlighting enhances the clean, open design of the entrance lobby and draws visitors into the gallery beyond. The gallery is both a display space for local artists and a setting for receptions. A composition of randomly hung decorative pendants, supplemental downlights, and perimeter track lighting allows endless lighting combinations that customize the space for varying uses.
The heart of the center is “The Club,” a flexible theater. Wall grazers with special glare shields highlight the brick walls, evoking the ambience of a downtown cabaret.
Simple yet elegant lighting overcomes design challenges that include exposed ceilings, a lack of recessing space as seen in the double-height multi-purpose studio on the third floor, the building’s landmark designation, and a limited budget. The lighting is a key element in a re-energized venue that reflects the theatre group’s mission: embracing its community and empowering all artists.
