David Rockefeller Creative Arts Center

Tarrytown, NY

The long-dormant Orangerie building on the Rockefeller Estate has been  transformed into the David Rockefeller Creative Arts Center (DRCAC), a multipurpose performance and rehearsal space with an art gallery and flexible studio space for community programs. Operational during all seasons, the building supports work in dance, drama, visual arts and media and host public performances and events. Moveable seating provides flexibility for both indoor and outdoor use. A new pavilion connected to the original building along the southeastern façade houses restroom and storage facilities; the pavilion’s basement houses mechanical space.

Sustainability was a fundamental criterion and the project achieved LEED Platinum certification, becoming Westchester’s first net-zero energy building.  Notably, the project received the highest scoring LEED v4 BD+C New Construction in New York State and was tied for the 3rd highest score in the country in 2023.

    • We were engaged by RBF at the inception of the project, helping to establish the wider team.

    • Oversaw a program of site investigations and probes in order to inform the project scope and budget.

    • Led the value engineering process at each stage of the project to ensure that both programmatic and budget requirements were met. 

    • Facilitate key project presentations of the to the RBF Working Group to enable project decision making. 

    • Ensured that the project was coordinated with a number of other campus projects including lighting and signage upgrades.

    • We provided options analysis (outright purchase, power purchase agreement and lease to own) for the procurement of the photovoltaic system.

    • Abatement of contaminated materials including lead, asbestos and disused oil tanks.

    • Working within the constraints of an existing historic structure that is owned by the National Trust. 

    • Management of numerous concealed conditions encountered during construction.

    • Owner - Rockefeller Brothers Fund

    • Architect - FXCollaborative

    • Landscape Architecture - MNLA

    • Builder - Yorke Construction

    • Theatre - Fisher Dachs Associates

    • Photography - © David Sundberg/Esto

“The Rockefeller properties in Westchester embody the family’s interests in the environment, historic preservation, farming and agriculture, and international engagement. A space for arts and culture is the final important piece to complete this extraordinary mosaic.” 

David Rockefeller, Jr.

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