Kotobuki Seating Redefines Accessibility and Comfort in Delacorte Theater Renovation

Kotobuki Seating International has completed a comprehensive seating installation for the newly revitalized Delacorte Theater in Central Park, marking a significant advancement in audience comfort and accessibility for The Public Theater's Free Shakespeare in the Park program. The $85 million renovation project, completed in collaboration with Ennead Architects and Fisher Dachs Associates Theater Planning and Design, features 1,864 custom-designed seats that address multiple challenges of an open-air cultural venue while prioritizing inclusivity and modern audience expectations.

The seating system represents a fundamental shift in how public theater spaces accommodate diverse audiences. Kotobuki engineered sixteen 27-inch XL seats that are visually indistinguishable from standard seating, ensuring patrons of all sizes receive equal accommodation without stigmatization. This design approach reflects the theater's commitment to dignity and inclusion for all attendees. The company adapted its AURA Chair with custom quiet-rise technology specifically for outdoor use, minimizing noise disruption during performances while maintaining the intimate acoustic quality essential for live theater.

Accessibility improvements form a core component of the renovation, with ADA-accessible seating more than doubling to 34 positions throughout the theater. This expansion directly supports The Public Theater's mission of providing free and equitable access to cultural programming. The seating upgrades include the elimination of outdated 18-inch seats in favor of wider 19- to 22-inch options, complemented by ergonomic refinements designed to withstand Central Park's seasonal weather extremes while providing enhanced comfort for extended performances.

Patrick Willingham, Executive Director of The Public Theater, emphasized that the revitalization focuses on reconceiving the entire audience experience rather than mere restoration. The seating design plays an instrumental role in delivering a space that is both more comfortable and more equitable, aligning with the organization's commitment to free theater for all New Yorkers. The integration of custom-sized donor plaques on each seat enhances recognition for philanthropic supporters while maintaining aesthetic consistency throughout the venue.

Cathleen Bachman, Principal at Fisher Dachs Associates, noted that Kotobuki's innovative design of the Aura chair has set a new standard for outdoor seating, particularly through the introduction of XL seating that maintains discreet integration within the overall architectural vision. The seating system works in concert with Ennead's architectural elements, including a new façade crafted from reclaimed redwood water towers and rebuilt lighting towers, to create a cohesive environment prioritizing resilience, sustainability, and inclusivity.

Keiko Fukasawa Sutton, CEO of Kotobuki, explained that the company approaches seating as an architectural component integral to spatial and cultural experience rather than mere furniture. The Delacorte project required solving unique challenges that demanded both technical precision and design sensitivity, resulting in a system that embodies the theater's commitment to longevity and audience comfort. The theater reopened in July 2025 with a production of Twelfth Night directed by Saheem Ali, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the 63-year-old cultural institution with seating designed to serve contemporary audiences for decades to come.