New York Times Center

Event space behind the NY Times building near the Port Authority.
A coat check, and plenty of staff running around to help direct you from point to point, and an auditorium that was a little cramped on the seating — think slightly wider than Broadway theater and nearly at the size of airlines economy spaces (people were in suits and had no where to write notes except their laps, though.
The bathrooms were on the lowest level basement and were smaller than I expected. You can probably do about 350 people here comfortably at an event in the theater… more than that, and you can’t cram them all into the auditorium but at least you can project it downstairs in the hall. Would’ve liked to see more seats in the hall itself downstairs during the breaks, but I guess it’s not bad to stretch the legs.
Also a rumor of wifi, but no signs or anything else to denote how to use it. Perhaps the event coordinators didn’t bother to order it?
Overall, great experience with the staff, venue checked out well (clean and bright), though the line for the bathroom did get a bit long (we had a full conference).

It’s not often that I’ll rave about sitting in a conference for eight hours straight. But I suppose if I’m going to do it, then there’s nothing better than the Times Center. This place is probably the prettiest place you could go to hear a lecture or see a presentation — it’s warm yet spacious, modern yet classic — there’s definitely a certain museum quality to the space.
I came here for TEDxManhattan and from the check-​in, to coat check, to the lecture room and dining cafeteria area — I was impressed. On top of that, all the staff is super professional and on point. The bathrooms were a bit dreary in comparison and could’ve done with more stalls. But overall, I think this is a great place to both hold and attend an event.

This is an absolutely beautiful space. Love the view of the tree-​filled New York Times building atrium behind the stage. All that wood and glass and bright red seating — it’s almost kind of obnoxious how pitch perfect all the design is. Beyond that, the quality of all the events I’ve attended here has been superb. The staff was helpful & pleasant and everything was run smoothly despite some serious crowds.

I was here doing volunteer work at this years NYC Food Festival. We held a few book signings and discussions here. The place is really clean and spacious. If you are on the ground floor and a discussion is going on. Numerous flat screen TVs line the walls so you don’t miss a thing.
Other than that I can’t really say anything else.

Overall very spacious, clean, and equipped with the latest technology for any type of event. I went to volunteer for Superstar K Season 3 New York Audition (sort of like American Idol but Korean version) that was hosted this past Saturday here and got to see the place a bit. I volunteered in the Sound & Video Engineering Room and the staff were really helpful and very laid back. The auditorium can pretty much accodomodate up to about 400 people since we had a total of 378 registered contestants and only several seats were vacant.

This is a review that is very particular to an experience. The New York Times Center is located right near Port Authority Bus Terminal and serves as a venue for meetings and presentations of all sorts from music, to guest speakers and more. My interactions with the center have been around the annual Toy Fair event. For the past several years, Hasbro (makers of Transformers, G.I. Joe, My Little Pony etc.) have had their Toy Fair «media day» at this site, giving me plenty of exposure year after year.
The center is divided into three levels. When you first walk in, it’s a wide open area with light wood colors and a counter for checking in. To the right is an open area that can be used for displays or as a lounge area. When you step down one level, there’s a coat check room, a small hallway (where generally Hasbro has set up it’s «employees only» area) and finally an auditorium. The auditorium has comfortable seats and is always well polished and taken care of. The stage is huge but the room is sized just right so you could actually hear someone speak from the front without a microphone (though it’s best with one of course).
The lower level is the main display room where Hasbro traditionally sets up its various toy displays. This is pretty much a wide open area, so what you see will largely depend on what the event you are going to dictates. The downstairs area is also where the rest rooms are located.
In general, the Times Square Center is a wide open venue that’s attractive, modern and designed to allow many different configurations. I look forward to visiting again some time, perhaps one day for an event other than Toy Fair!

A versatile event space. I’ve attended a science talk and a film screening here, and the only complaint I have is that the seat backs don’t allow adequate leg room for the row above. In both events I’ve attended here, I’ve had to sit nearly sideways to accommodate the folding of my (I guess long?) legs.
Aside from that, I look forward to more thoughtful programming from the Times. I’m especially hoping for good things from their newly launched Film Club!

Awesome event space. I was there for the Mashable Media Summit and it was well-​run from start to finish.
It’s laid out well and the staff was on point.
Nothing else to say. Definitely use it for events. It’s worth it.

Amazing theater!.. went there for the Supima Fashion Show Competition, the backdrop was the rest of the building, such a great effect!

You know what? As a venue space, I actually really like the Times Center. Accommodating staff? Check. Get-​it-​done managers? Check. Nice caterers? Check. Ample space? Check. Nice space??? Surprisingly, check.
Venue:
What’s great about the Time Center is that it’s new. New events spaces are the best because they’re, obviously, not rundown, but the people who work there aren’t jaded yet. It doesn’t hurt that the Times Center has a light and bright feel. Orange, red and yellow walls (which oddly looks a lot like my office walls) with only light wood and lots of glass makes sure this space isn’t encroaching or trite. So when we did our second annual summer conference here over my birthday, it went down really quite well.
The Times Center has three different areas: the stage, the gallery and the hall. Officially, we had both the gallery and the stage, which are both upstairs. The gallery is bright and open, and we used it for registration and bloggers area. The stage was, obviously, where all our panels happened, and with seats for 380, we had more than enough space. The in-​house tech crew were great and made sure all of our audio and video were spot on.
The hall downstairs is mostly for banquets and expo floors. My only gripe is that the bathrooms are also downstairs, and are the only set in the building save for the one in the office, which we were using as the speaker ready room. Free wireless was also available, which for a tech and media conference is most important. The roughly 6,000 square feet of space is one of the better places I’ve thrown events in the city, and I’m really rather happy with the way ours went.
And by the way, Carrie, our on-​site manager, was more than helpful, she was a godsend. She made sure we were never more than 15 minutes behind schedule – which for back-​to-​back-​to-​back conferences and panels is a huge feat. She helped us with all of our on-​site crises and saved us from a few major meltdowns. Thank you very much, hon!
Food:
All of our 400-​ish attendees throughout the two days were treated to coffee in the morning, soda and cookies in the afternoon and drinks in the evening. Let me just say, chocolate cheesecake brownies are awesome. Chocolate biscotties are awesome too. Downside is that the food in the area is rather on the high end, thanks theater district… Either way, catering is allowed, and the Times Center staff will help you if you need food at your event.
Actually, the Times Center staff will help you whatever you need. I love green staff and spaces, they actually remind you of how good events can be, and how rewarding events management can be.

I like the building it look simple and yet elegant nothing crazy on the inside and outside but it is still enjoyable to look at and be in it.

The Times Center is located in the NYTimes’ new (ish) building by Renzo Piano, which is worth a visit just for that reason — the architecture is composed of lots of clean angles and minimalist elements. The theater is on the small side, which is good because it guarantees one a good view of whatever is on stage. I saw Ferran Adria & Anthony Bourdain here last autumn, and it did not disappoint.
Don’t miss the Movable Type installation by the elevators in the main lobby — hundreds of small screens which display ever-​moving text from current stories in the Times, backed by ambient noise that evokes the clacking of typewriter keys. It’s supposed to be a «dynamic portrait of the news as it happens» — pretty rad.

I was 100% beyond a doubt positive that taking the time to review the New York Times Center would get me another all important First for my Unilocal profile. But alas, mr. roderick beat me to the punch. No biggie, I’m with him, this is a great place to see any sort of speaker, and the Times usually gets good ones.
I spent the better part of a day here back in January for the 2009 Arts and Leisure festival seeing three different programs. They run a good ship here, everything is well organized. The space itself is really nice and inviting, very clean with comfy seats. If you know it’s going to be a popular show, I suggest getting there 45 minutes or so before the actual start time so you can get in line early and get a good seat. There aren’t bad seats, but if I’m going to listen to Keith Olbermann verbally fellate himself for an hour, then I want to see that huge head up close (the one on top of his neck).
After any speaker I’ve seen at the NY Times Center, in the downstairs area they were selling books of the speaker and often you could wait in line for autographed copies. They also had people from Jim’s Organic Coffee walking around with free samples (good stuff).
Look, you kind of have to be a nerd to want to go to something at a place like this. But if you are a nerd that wants to go to something at a place like this, you’ll enjoy what you see at the NY Times Center.

This new venue is actually located in the new New York Times building, though you enter on 41^st Street. It’s here where they had their annual Arts and Leisure Festival, where different reporters and columnists interview various celebrities. Included this year were Cornel West, Tom Brokaw, Martha Stewart, Josh Brolin and Feist, whom we saw.
You walk in, and it seems like the lobby of a museum or the opera house. Its very clean, very proper, with very serious looking people working there as security and ushers. And since it is the New York Times the majority of people there were above the age of 40. Yes, even for the Feist discussion there were more older people than younger.
The theatre itself is rather small but it looks like it fits about 300 people. So that means that every seat in the house is a good one. The sound system is very clear and not too loud, which I know alot of the older people would’ve complained about. Plus the seats themselves are plush and very comfortable.
As for the show itself, it was great. Feist can pretty much talk all day and night and I would be enthralled. They even had a Q&A where audience members got to ask questions, but they had to goto the microphone at the head of the aisles. Needless to say, my partner pretty much bum rushed and gang tackled me and everyone else on her way to the mike so she could be the first one there.