This new ground-up gallery building for long-time client David Zwirner responds to the neighborhood’s industrial heritage with a bold and clear monumentality. Made from board-formed exposed concrete, the façade is rough and refined—having the grittiness to resonate with nearby historic structures and the elegance to create a distinguished identity for the gallery. The teak storefront with large clear glazing welcomes visitors and creates a warm contrast with the concrete. Galleries are diverse in scale, materiality, and lighting, offering flexible environments for art. The building sets an environmental standard for art-related facilities as the first LEED-certified commercial gallery in the U.S.
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The 30,000 square foot project incorporates five green roof spaces, premium efficiency mechanical, maximized daylighting, and locally and responsibly sourced materials. Built to museum climate control standards, the gallery was specifically designed to accommodate the range of artists the gallery represents—including modern masters such as Dan Flavin and Donald Judd. The main exhibition space is an expansive 5,000 square foot column-free gallery with 18’ ceilings. Concrete floors bring an industrial sensibility to the space, along with four north-facing sawtooth skylights.
Public exhibition space continues on the second floor with a more intimate series of galleries with side windows and wide-plank oak floors. The upper levels contain private functions such as viewing rooms, offices, a library, and art handling areas. The exposed concrete of the façade also forms the entry spaces as well as the central stair. Open to each of the five floors, the dramatic skylit stair creates a counterpoint to the restrained exhibition spaces.
- Client:David Zwirner
- Location:New York, NY
- Size:30,000 sf
- Date:2013
(Photography: Jason Schmidt, Selldorf Architects)
Ground Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan
Third Floor Plan
Fourth Floor Plan
Fifth Floor Plan
Roof Plan
Section Looking East
