Art

We converted this multi-family townhouse into a multi-story art gallery and office by stripping the existing building back to the shell and creating four floors of gallery space, with a top floor kitchen and cellar storage. Construction included the stabilization of a rear two-story addition; all new roofing and skylights; new building systems including mechanical, electrical and fire protection and passenger elevator. We installed a new oak stair with custom steel balusters and oak handrail from ground to top floor.

This project involved the conversion of an eight-story, warehouse into a state-of-the-art technical services and art storage facility, which included custom facilities for art preparation, conservation, photo archive, darkrooms, and carpentry shop.

Because the warehouse had been abandoned for many years, substantial alteration and restoration of the exterior masonry envelope were required. All existing window openings were revised—either filled in or re-cut into the existing masonry exterior. A new roof, loading dock, and freight elevator were built.

We provided museum-quality climate control for all art storage and art preparation spaces, which led to a holistic solution for the entire building: vapor barriers at all exterior walls; careful natural light control through window films, shading and artificial lighting filters and screens; humidification and dehumidification systems and controls; and dry-pipe fire suppression sprinkler systems.

In 1991 the Guggenheim Museum leased three floors of raw industrial space in Soho’s landmarked Cast Iron Historic District to expand its exhibition capacity. Working with the design of Arata Isozaki for the 22,000 sq. ft. of the exhibition and retail space, we sought to retain the unique identity of the original structure and create fluid open spaces within strict environmental and conservation guidelines. Bordered by over-scale windows, the high-ceilinged spaces were punctuated by the rhythm of cast-iron columns along the 200-foot length of each floor. Using these inherent qualities and minimizing the construction of partition walls, we preserved the original character of the space: large floors with quality of light characteristic of manufacturing buildings.

The staff offices were located directly above the exhibition space and occupied 12,000 sq. ft. on the third and fourth floors.

With the Gwathmey Siegel addition to the Frank Lloyd Wright building already underway, the Guggenheim Museum required further administrative space to accommodate its expanding staff.

Residual below-grade space excavated between the curves of the Wright building and the edge of Fifth Avenue yielded 10,000 sq. ft. of additional on-site space. We developed a mix of natural and artificial light to provide a varied and ambient illumination similar to that of the Wright building with its diffuse light and modulated sky-lit surfaces. The administrative offices were designed to complement and extend Wright’s sensory and spiritual promenade within the context of a fully efficient and contemporary facility.

This is the second space we designed for James Cohan Gallery. The client asked us to convert an existing Lower East Side corner retail space in a way that embraces the raw-edge aesthetic of the neighborhood. We replaced the storefront to increase daylight, leveled the floors with concrete, added beadboard to the ceiling, and exposed the original cast iron columns to set them off against the gallery’s white walls.

We converted this auto repair garage in the heart of the Chelsea art gallery district into a 5,000 sq. ft. gallery with a 1,000 sq. ft. steel mezzanine for staff. The main exhibition room, one of four separate gallery spaces, features 20-foot high ceilings and large, new skylights. We replaced the original roll-up garage doors with a street façade of full-height walnut doors and wall panels.

In close consultation with the gallery owners, we selectively maintained existing skylight openings and relocated others to maximize natural light. The art exhibition spaces are carefully configured and proportioned, each with a distinctive sense of volume based on ceiling height.