Brooklyn Academy of Music
Also known as: Bam
Why it's listed
Occupying the full Lafayette Avenue blockfront between Ashland Place and St. Felix Street in Brooklyn, this performing arts building was constructed in 1907, replacing an earlier Academy of Music dating from 1859. It rises about seventy feet over a granite base, with cream-colored brick and polychromatic terra-cotta ornament in an Italian Renaissance manner. Five recessed entrances are framed by terra-cotta bands carrying seventy cherubs playing music, and five tall arched windows define the upper facade. Inside, a vaulted lobby has a marble mosaic floor spelling out BAM, leading to an opera house and a concert hall. The institution thrived in the early twentieth century, declined after World War II, and was acquired by New York City in 1952. Under director Harvey Lichtenstein from 1967 it became a leading center for experimental dance, theater, opera and music, and the Next Wave Festival began in 1983. The building remains in use for performances.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the building as nationally significant for its role as a performing arts center and for its ornate Italian Renaissance design. It hosted major touring artists and companies in the early twentieth century. Since 1967 it has been a nationally and internationally recognized center for dance, theater, opera and avant-garde programming, including the Next Wave Festival begun in 1983.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 06000251, listed May 2, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 30 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn |
|---|---|
| County | Brooklyn |
| Listed | May 2, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000251 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Late 19th & 20th Century Revivals/Italian Renaissance |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Performing Arts, Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a theater and music facility; the cornice was restored in 2004 and the building is described as retaining a very high degree of integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Fort Greene Historic District (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 40.68663, -73.97771 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 06000251.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q45031924
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.