Guide to the Best Events to Check out During Archtober 2019 in NYC

October is Archtober in New York City (that’s pronounced “ark-tober”). Archtober is a month long celebration of architecture and design throughout the five boroughs. The month is full of exciting events hosted by partners such as the Center for Architecture, the AIANY, various leading architecture firms and more. Untapped Cities is a proud media sponsor of Archtober, and you will find many architecture themed behind-the-scenes experiences hosted by us throughout the month. This year, Archtober is also inviting Untapped Cities Insiders to attend select events for free!

The signature event series for Archtober is the Building of the Day tour program. Every day in October, a different building in New York City will open its doors for the public to come in and explore with the guidance of an architect. Some of the highlights include the recently opened Hunter’s Point library, Fort Wadsworth, and the new Statue of Liberty Museum. If you plan on attending any of the thirty-one building of the day tours, don’t wait to sign up. Some of the tours are already sold out! Another exciting series of tours run by Archotber is Workplace Wednesdays. Every week, guests are invited to go inside some of the most innovative architecture firms in New York City. Some of the firms visited include Ennead Architects, Deborah Berke PArtners, and Diller Scofidio + Renfro. Along with Building of the Day and Workplace Wednesday tours, Archtober offers multiple events everyday ranging from lectures and panel discussions to exhibitions, film screenings, workshops and more.

The American Copper Buildings, photo by Max Touhey

Untapped Cities will be hosting a bunch of architecture related experiences throughout the month including public tours and Untapped Cities Insider events. This Archtober, you will find additional time slots for some of our classic experiences such as Secrets of Grand Central Terminal, Underground Tour of the NYC Subway, and Secrets of the Brooklyn Bridge. You can also grab tickets to our Behind-the-Scenes Hard Hat tours at the abandoned hospital on Ellis Island, as well as a VIP Tour of the Woolworth Building led by the great granddaughter of building architect Cass Gilbert.

Inside Liggett Hall on Governors Island

If you are or become an Untapped Cities Insider, there are even more, free, experiences available this Archtober. From a tour of the architectural studios of Lang Architects, to a walkthrough of the amazing American Copper Buildings designed by SHoP Architects, Insiders can take part in special architecture themed events. Insiders will also gain exclusive access to off-limits buildings on Governors Island which have sat vacant for decades, as well as the raw industrial and new renovated spaces of Kearny Point, a former Navy yard currently in the process of becoming an innovative, waterfront business hub. Untapped Cities is also hosting an exciting behind-the-design tour of Hunters Point South Park led by architects Thomas Balsley and Michael Manfredi. In addition to Untapped Cities hosted events, Insiders can gain free access to a variety of Archtober hosted events such as the upcoming Cocktails and Conversations with architect Marlon Blackwell, the 13th Annual Arthur Rosenblatt Memorial Lecture: Thomas Phifer, the fan favorite Pumpkitecture! Architectural Pumpkin Carving Competition and more! Not an Insider yet? Become a member today to gain access to these free events and more behind-the-scenes tours all year long.

You can keep track of all the hundreds of events taking place on the Archtober calendar found here!

Next, check out Tour a Different Building in NYC Everyday in October with Archtober 2019 and check out all of our upcoming public tours and Insider events!