New York University, Gallatin School of Individualized Study
Defining an architectural identity for an academic program with an unconventional curriculum, the design restores the literal and metaphorical idea of a “school without walls,” as Gallatin was intended when established in 1976.
The School comprises five floors of newly renovated space in an historic building on NYU’s Greenwich Village campus. The loft building lends itself to expression of the school’s mission through spatial flexibility and experimentation. Its original aesthetic is enhanced by “floating” program spaces within the larger floor plate at angles to the building façade, creating pockets of informal space that foster interaction.
Signature design spaces unify the School vertically and express its identity: brightly colored ceiling panels, which are visible from the street, greet visitors as they enter each floor from the elevator. All floors feature murals by Peter Halley, which were specially commissioned for the space and developed in consultation with architects, students, faculty and administrators.
A strong street-level presence if effected by means of a public lounge, 900-square-foot art gallery and a fully-flexible 1,700-square-foot performance hall. Moveable partitions allow the gallery and performance space to adjust to a range of activities, from intimate performances and exhibitions to school-wide gatherings.
Details
- Year
- 2008
- Location
- New York, NY
- Size
- 44,400 GSF
- Program
- Lobby, Performance Hall, Art Gallery, Public Lounge
- LEED Gold
Team
- Ennead Design Team
- Joseph Fleischer, Kevin McClurkan, Robert Young, Molly McGowan, Charmian Place, Elizabeth Arnaiz, Si-Yeon Min, Madeleine Sun
- Photography
- Sara Ambalu/Ennead Architects, Jon Roemer