Commercial

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.

Pace purchased 508 West 25th Street, located under the High Line, to create a new gallery building connected to its existing space next door (formerly the Bortolami Gallery, which we had renovated in 2007).

Constrained by the High Line structure above, we maximized the ceiling height with a structural solution comprised of shallow steel members. We ran skylights the length of the east and west party walls so that natural light floods the galleries despite the hovering High Line above.

A ten-foot by ten-foot interior opening connects the old and new gallery buildings and allows for a flexible exhibition program.