ROOFTOP STOP: A rendering of what new indoor concerts will look at like at the Rooftop at Pier 17 in New York/ (Courtesy Venue)
New Glass Enclosure Means Additional 25+ Concerts Per Year
The Rooftop at Pier 17 in New York City is scheduled to be enclosed in a custom glass structure for winter concerts beginning in late 2025 – making year-round performances possible for the first time.
The floor-to-ceiling glass enclosure will transform the 1.5 acre venue five stories above the East River into a climate-controlled, indoor space while preserving its famous views of the lower Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge.
The winter configuration capacity will be 3,000, compared with 3,500 for the typical open-air events held May through October. The venue is also adding a new VIP balcony level. Project cost was not disclosed.
The announcement coincides with a five-year extension of the partnership between venue operator Seaport Entertainment Group and Live Nation to continue programming the concert venue as the exclusive booking partner.
The new design makes it possible to expand The Rooftop at Pier 17’s Seaport Concert Series, with an estimated 25 additional performances planned for the late fall and winter months. The Rooftop currently hosts more than 60 concerts. Since it launched in 2018, the concert series has featured artists including Billie Eilish, Tate McRae, 21 Savage, Noah Kahan, Billy Strings, Ringo Starr, Machine Gun Kelly, Lil Nas X, The Lumineers, Diana Ross, Zach Bryan, Don Toliver, Kings of Leon, Blondie, deadmau5 and The Fugees.
Planning for the 2025 series is underway with performances by Elderbrook (May 1-2), Trivium and Bullet for My Valentine (May 7), Amyl and The Sniffers (May 15), Peach Pit & Briston Maroney (May 22-23), Reggae Fest Blaze (June 14), Riley Green (July 24) and Cody Jinks (Aug. 13).
In advance of the announcement, VenuesNow talked with Anton Nikodemus, CEO of Seaport Entertainment Group, about redefining the outdoor entertainment experience at The Rooftop at Pier 17.
VenuesNow: What was the process like deciding No. 1 If it was even possible and No. 2 how to find the right design / construction partners to get it done?
Anton Nikodemus: Over the past six years, the positive feedback from fans and artists has been overwhelming of what a unique and memorable concert setting The Rooftop at Pier 17 is. So much so that we started to think, “How great would it be if we could provide this special concert experience year-round?” Once that seed was planted, we began talking to partners and ideating concepts of how to maintain the venue’s signature views of lower Manhattan while being climate controlled to enjoy during New York City’s colder months.
Seaport Entertainment Group is consulting with Heini of Brooklyn, New York, on the development of the winter enclosure. Mancini Duffy will serve as the architect of record.
Obviously, maintaining the view was an important factor. When did the idea of a removable cover take shape?
Previously The Rooftop at Pier 17 hosted concerts only outdoors and from early May through October. As temperatures tend to begin dropping in late October, we wanted to find a way to extend the Seaport Concert Series by enclosing the stage solely during colder months. But doing so in a way that also preserves its skyline backdrop. We came to an innovative solution: surrounding the venue with floor-to-ceiling glass panels during winter, that are capable of being removed annually to return The Rooftop to its renowned open-air design for summer performances. Seasons change, rooftop concerts remain.
How long will construction take? Will there be any interruption to the next season?
Our concert series in 2025 will kick off in the spring, and when those outdoor shows wrap in the fall, construction towards the indoor structure will begin. This will allow for a seamless transition so by late 2025 we will have our first concerts within the new enclosure.
Was the VIP balcony already in the works or something that was added during the planning stage?
We’re always thinking about ways we can take the concertgoers’ experience to new heights. With the winter concept, we are excited to introduce the VIP balcony as an elevated perspective to take in the world-class performances that come to The Rooftop at Pier 17.
