“Birdie” Nesting at Newly Re-Designed All-Green Henry Miller Theatre
Bye Bye Birdie made its Broadway debut almost 50 years ago. Now Birdie is back on Broadway, this time at The Henry Miller Theatre on 43rd Street in Times Square. Audiences have been entering the theatre through the famous neo-Georgian façade since it first opened in 1918. But once through the front doors, the audience won’t remember ever having been there before. That’s because it’s all new…And all GREEN!
Closed since 2004, the Henry Miller Theatre has also returned to Broadway with the new production of Bye Bye Birdie.
Although Bye Bye Birdie takes place in the last century, the new Henry Miller Theatre is all about the future. The theatre is now part of the Bank of America Tower. This 2.1 million-square-foot, 55 story project was redesigned and repurposed according to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum standards. The original facade of the theatre was left intact, while the rest of the theatre was rebuilt from the foundation up, to meet the rigorous LEED certification process regulations.
All choices in the design process and materials reflect a united goal to make the new Henry Miller Theatre the first totally-sustainable and green Broadway Theatre. This meticulously executed project necessitated a huge learning curve within the NYC construction community, hopefully raising the bar for future Broadway renovations with some of the innovations listed below.
Potable Water: Several measures have been taken to reduce the amount of potable water being used. Some of these measures include waterless urinals, and a “gray water system” that repurposes water from sinks, to be reused for flushing toilets and cooling systems in the building.
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning: Henry Miller Theatre system 
uses highly rated filters on the outdoor air intake. The filters minimize the amount of particulate matter entering the air supply to the interior spaces.
Wood: Solid wood and wood veneers are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. Native North American cherry, and a rapidly renewable bamboo were selected as finish materials in the Henry Miller Theatre.
Carpets: All carpets meet the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label plus requirements , which further reduces the amount of air contaminants.
VOC Levels: paint, concrete sealants and carpentry/carpet adhesives were all selected for low VOC levels, to maximize the environmental quality for patrons and staff.
Stone: The marble flooring and countertops were quarried in Vermont, within a 500 mile radius of New York City, reducing the energy and carbon emissions that might have come from transporting the materials from a more remote location.While meeting all environmental and sustainable design elements, the Henry
Miller Theatre has also managed to incorporate the latest technology into the 
backstage element of the building, without disturbing this newly achieved eco-balance. And the theatre’s 1055 new seats (located on two levels) all have full views of the stage. Bye Bye Birdie has brought the Henry Miller Theatre back to Broadway, and now this eco-showcase will inspire the Broadway community and audiences into the possibilities for a green and sustainable future everywhere.
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