The Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza Performing Arts Center, known as “The Egg,” and the New York State Office of General Services (OGS) announce a transformative capital improvement project to modernize and exchange the venue. Construction will begin in July, with completion slated for early 2026. This will be the longest closure in the venue’s history, said Allison Young, marketing director for The Egg.
The $19.5 million project for the state-owned venue will include replacing seating, carpeting, and lighting throughout the building and replacing the current theatrical lighting system with a state-of-the-art, fully LED automated one, which will expand the types of productions The Egg can host. Aesthetically, the interior updates will harken back to the theater’s original mod designs, and the seats will maintain their “beloved red and blue color schemes.” The focus on the visual as well as the structural ties into The Egg’s goal of establishing itself as a tourist destination.
“OGS is proud to help transform one of the Capital Region’s most iconic performing arts centers, The Egg, into a modern, safe, and more accessible facility at the Empire State Plaza. This capital project will revive and renovate all areas of The Egg, covering everything from seating to lighting while prioritizing ADA compliance so that everyone is welcome and able to enjoy all the performances and events presented there for generations to come. We are happy to work with The Egg on this endeavor and advance Governor Houchul’s commitment to investing in our state’s dynamic creative industries.”
– New York State Office of General Services Commissioner Jeanette Moy
Additional upgrades will be aimed at improving accessibility, including expanding the currently accessible seating sections and restrooms in each theater. An induction loop assistive listening system, which transmits sound from a microphone to hearing aids, cochlear implants, or a portable device, will also be installed.
The Egg’s Executive Director, Diane Eber, has expressed her excitement to embark on this renovation and has acknowledged that these upgrades are made to enhance the experience, not change it, and to ensure that it shall persist for many years to come.
For more information on The Egg, click here.
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