Proj Overview

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Located on 125th Street on the site of the Studio Museum’s original home, the new building will double the space for exhibitions and house public events and educational programs. Scheduled to open in the fall of 2025, the museum will include studios for artists in residence as well as a cafe, lobby, and rooftop terrace.

Read more about this project in the Summer 2025 issue of Ascent.

PRECAST SOLUTION

Situated in the heart of Harlem, its dark, bold exterior is constructed with precast concrete, offering a stark contrast to the traditional architecture of the surrounding neighborhood. Comprising a series of stacked shapes over six stories, the different elevations shift in size and placement.

 

Project Team

Architect

Adjaye Associates

Executive Architects

Cooper Robertson

Owner

The Studio Museum in Harlem

Contractor

Sciame Construction

Engineer

Simspon Gumpertz & Heger

Precast Concrete Producer

Betons Prefabrique do Lac (BPDL)

Key Project Attributes

  • The stacked volumes provide 82,000 ft2 of exhibition space and public areas. There is also a four-story monumental stair within the museum, which allows visitors to view artwork along the 85-ft-tall vertical gallery.
  • The Studio Museum demonstrates a connection to the community as it invites Harlem residents and visitors into a multiuse space that will be open to the public during museum hours and used for informal gatherings.
  • Because of the interior soffit panels, custom rigging was designed for this project to transfer 30-tonpanels from the crane.

Project/Precast Scope

  • The precast concrete creates a sculptural façade that is inviting and reflects the activity inside.
  • The precast concrete evokes the forms and textures of the architectural landscape of the neighborhood.
  • The unique precast concrete components, including three-dimensional shapes with multiple sided finishes, required more than 200 unique connection types.