David Adjaye's firm Adjaye Associates has unveiled detailed plans for the Studio Museum in Harlem, New York. Developed in collaboration with Cooper Robertson, this new home for the Studio Museum will be the premier center for contemporary artists of African descent, the principal visual art institution in Harlem, and a magnet for visitors from around the world.

Located on West 125th Street of New York, the Studio Musuem will rise on the site of a century-old commercial building originally designed in the early 1980s by late African- American architect J. Max Bond Jr. 

View of Main Entrance from 125th Street. Image courtesy of Adjaye Associates

The Studio Museum in Harlem was founded in 1968 by a diverse group of artists, community activists and philanthropists who envisioned a new kind of museum that not only displays artwork but also supports artists and arts education. 

The Museum was originally located in a rented loft at 2033 Fifth Avenue, just north of 125th Street. Renowned architect J. Max Bond Jr. led a renovation that adapted the building into a two-level exhibition space with offices and space for rental tenants. 

Street Level View of Main Entrance. Image courtesy of Adjaye Associates

The 82,000-square-foot building will increase the museum's spaces for art exhibition and its renowned Artist-in-Residence program by 115 percent. The five-storey building presents a dynamic and sculptural facade configuration with window recessions and different volumetric solid-void relationships. The building includes a roof terrace and an auditorium space at lower level, the design will also significantly expand the museum's indoor and outdoor spaces for education, public programs and amenities.

View from 124th Street. Image courtesy of Adjaye Associates

Funded through a public-private initiative in partnership with the City of New York, the project has already achieved 70 percent of the capital campaign goal of $175 million, thanks to generous support from the City of New York as lead partner and to private individuals, foundations, and corporations. In addition, The city has committed $53.8 million toward construction of the new building, with funding coming from the Mayor’s Office, the City Council, and the Manhattan Borough President’s Office through the Department of Cultural Affairs.

Inspired by the brownstones, churches, and bustling sidewalks of Harlem, Adjaye Associates' provides the Studio Museum with a dynamic, sculptural facade that contrasts strongly with the surrounding commercial buildings. 

Interior View of Lobby. Image courtesy of Adjaye Associates

"It has been an honour to work alongside Thelma Golden, the Board of Trustees, and the entire Studio Museum team to craft a new home for the Studio Museum - one that will build on the museum's incredible legacy and deepen its relationships with the local community and an expanding global audience, said Sir David Adjaye.

"Above all, we have sought to create spaces that celebrate the rich heritage of the institution, its relationship with artists and its role as a pillar of Harlem's cultural life. Inspired by the architectural character of the neighbourhood and featuring various scales of gallery space that speak to the diverse needs of contemporary artists, the design seeks to ensure that artistic dialogue remain at the heart of the museum," added Adjaye.

Interior View of Public Hall Flexible, tiered space that can serve as a public hall for lectures, performances, or films, or an informal gathering place. Image courtesy of Adjaye Associates

The building has a porous, welcoming presence at street level, a light-filled core that soars up through the entire interior, and a tiered public hall, which the architect has likened to an "inverted stoop", that invites people to step down from the street into a multi use space that will be free and open to the public during the Museum hours and used for presentations and informal gatherings.

Third Floor Double-Height Gallery. Image courtesy of Adjaye Associates

"We are thrilled to announce that during our 50th anniversary year, we will begin construction on the single biggest initiative the Studio Museum has ever undertaken, making David Adjaye’s brilliant design a reality," said Thelma Golden, Director and Chief Curator of The Studio Museum in Harlem.

"We look back with pride on our legacy, so much of which has been built within the space that Max Bond renovated for us. We look forward to constructing a building that provides unprecedented resources for our work and creates a superb new cultural landmark for Harlem and the entire City of New York,"added Golden.

Cross Section Perspective from Lenox Avenue. Image courtesy of Adjaye Associates

The building is planned to start construction in late fall 2018, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the museum. The building is planned to be opened to the public in 2021. 

Top image: Exterior View from 125th Street Plaza. Image courtesy of Adjaye Associates

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