The New York Historical Society
The Henry Luce III Center for the Study of American Culture
New York City
Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners

This classically detailed New York City landmark receives a long-overdue face lift

© Peter Aaron/Esto

For more photos click on 'photos & drawings' above. To see the people and products behind this project click on 'people & products.'

During the past six years, the New York Historical Society has transformed a troubled institution into a forward-thinking, exciting museum. The original building, designed by the firm of York and Sawyer in 1903, suffered from deferred maintenance and increasing obsolescence of its systems. The physical deterioration of the facilities coupled with the financial difficulties of the institution prompted the intervention of the city and the state in the early 1990's with the procurement of initial funding for the implementation of critical repairs.

In 1993 a study was undertaken by the architect and other consultants, which resulted in a book to guide the allocation of available funding. Design and implementation of the ideas in the study included relocating the main entry to West 77th Street and improving first-floor circulation. Gallery spaces were made more accessible, through the renovation of the impressive new great hall. All ground floor gallery external walls were retrofitted with vapor barriers to protect the artifacts. Substantial upgrades to infrastructure, new roofing, and façade restoration work were undertaken. A new granite ramp and chair lift were installed for handicapped access.

The Henry Luce III Center for the Study of American Culture is the latest improvement. The museum's vast and immeasurably important collection—for the most part stored off-site—became newly accessible to the public with the Luce Center's opening last fall. Created on the fourth floor of the museum's landmark building, it houses and displays a collection that includes silver, Tiffany lamps, costumes, jewelry, textiles, sculpture, paintings, and furniture. In-depth information about objects is accessible through a comprehensive database available on computer terminals throughout the center and on-line through the Internet.

Formal name of Project:
The New York Historical Society/
The Henry Luce III Center for the Study of American Culture

Location:
New York City

Gross square footage:
24,500 sq. ft. for the Luce Center

Total construction cost:
$5.5 million for the Luce Center
The entire project cost is $11.3 million

Owner:
The New York Historical Society
Ms. Betsy Gotbaum, former President; current President Mr. Kenneth T. Jackson

Architect:
Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners LLP
41 East 11th Street, New York, New York 10003
(212) 777-7800 fax number: (212) 475-7424