Each day in the month of October, a different building in New York City will open its doors to visitors who want to learn about the structure’s unique architecture. The Building of the Day program presented by Archtober, a month-long celebration of NYC architecture and design, brings the public inside the city’s most amazing spaces for architect-led walking tours.
Building of the Day tours are presented by the Center for Architecture and are hosted across all five boroughs. While many are already sold out, there are still plenty of fascinating buildings you can gain access to. Don’t wait too long! Check out all of the buildings below.
Untapped New York is also hosting a variety of Archtober events this month! Join us to explore the architecture of Grand Central, track down remnants of the original Penn Station, visit the Gilded Age mansions of 5th Ave, and more! Untapped New York Insiders can also sign up for a free ticket to Archtober’s annual pumpkin carving contest, Pumpkitecture! Limited spots are available.
October 4th – One South First
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Address: 1 S 1st St. Brooklyn, NY 11249
Architect: COOKFOX
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The interconnected towers of One South First and Ten Grand are located at the northern end of the five-building Domino Sugar development, which includes the adaptive reuse of the landmarked sugar refinery and four new buildings on the Williamsburg waterfront, each designed by a different architect under a 2013 master plan created by SHoP Architects.
October 5th – 30 Morningside
12:00 -1:00pm
Address: 30 Morningside Drive New York, NY 10025 United States
Architect: CetraRuddy
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Adapting St. Luke’s Hospital by Ernest Flagg, 1896-1928, into apartments within five French Renaissance Revival-style pavilions across from Morningside Park, the conversion builds on Flagg’s maximizing light and air around a central carriage house–later a standard for hospital design. The conversion resolves varied floor heights and structural systems, adding infill buildings. Inside, unconventional duplexes with double-height living rooms behind mansard roofs open residents to the carriage house’s new, double-height resident lounge with vaulted ceilings.
Please note: this tour is accessible by wheelchair.
October 6th – 550 Madison Avenue Garden
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Address: 550 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10022
Architect & Landscape Architect: Snøhetta
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As the design architect and landscape architect, Snøhetta has repositioned the landmarked 1980s tower originally designed by Philip Johnson and John Burgee for a new age while transforming an existing but underutilized Privately-Owned Public Space (POPS) into a lavishly planted, year-round garden. This expansive role includes the conceptual re-thinking of the tower’s structural core for multi-tenant occupancy and the redesign of the tower’s ground-level public areas to be more transparent, accessible, and verdant. Please note: this tour is accessible by wheelchair.
October 7th – East Flatbush Library
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Address: 9612 Church Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11212 United States
Architect: LEVENBETTS
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The renovation of the East Flatbush Branch Library represents a key moment in the public life of this community. As the affluence of the city increases and income levels and services in neighborhoods like East Flatbush rise accordingly, but at a far lesser rate than other areas of the city, there exists an opportunity to make these key public buildings more transparent, vibrant and architecturally participatory in the life of the street. At the same time, the need for security and safety for the people who use the library remains. To address this opportunity, the design intent for the library is a light-filled communal space of learning, self-improvement and community gathering. The overall design establishes a large central space with glowing smaller spaces ringing the perimeter and provides the technical and spatial needs for the branch library to flourish.
October 8th – The Perelman Center for Performing Arts
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Address: 251 Fulton Street New York, NY 10007 United States
Architect: REX, Davis Brody Bond
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A performing arts center was a key component of the master plan to rebuild the World Trade Center site following the attacks on September 11, 2001. Located adjacent to the new Transit Hub, The Perelman Center for Performing Arts at the World Trade Center (PAC) will create approximately 135,000 sf of space for theater, dance, music, film, and opera in Lower Manhattan. PAC will further animate Lower Manhattan and become an anchor for the arts community.
October 9th – Bronx Children’s Museum
10:00am – 11:00am
Address: Bronx Children’s Museum 725 Exterior Street The Bronx, NY 10451 United States
Architect: O’Neill McVoy Architects
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Located on the banks of the Harlem River, the Bronx Children’s Museum aims to engage children with the connectivity of urban culture and the natural world. The design catalyzes the site’s position between city grid and tidal river with a Museum Architecture of organic flow inside the rectangular frame of the existing historic powerhouse – a new kind of space unlike the city’s cellular rooms and street grids, connecting to the geometry and experience of the natural landscape and waterfront.
October 10th – City Kids Education Center
6:00pm – 7:00pm
Address: 240 Meeker Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11211 United States
Architect: Barker Architecture Office
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City Kids is a new childhood education center located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The project is an adaptive reuse of a former lumber warehouse located under an existing high-rise residential tower. Six preschool classrooms open onto a central double-height courtyard gathering space. The after-school program for elementary school students including specialized classrooms for cooking, theater, STEM, art, and movement are located up the stairs at the reception area. Please note: this tour is accessible by wheelchair.
October 11th – SAGE Center Brooklyn at Stonewall House
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Address: 271 Myrtle Ave Brooklyn, NY 11201 United States
Architect: Ted Porter Architecture
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SAGE Center is housed on the ground floor of the Stonewall House Senior Residences. The primary audience is the elder LGBTQ+ community for whom it provides services but everyone is welcome. Older LGBTQ+ people often need help because many are single without children, and may be estranged from their families or feel isolated in traditional senior centers. The Center’s design satisfies a flexible program on a modest budget while celebrating the lives of its users. Please note: this tour is accessible by wheelchair.
October 13th – International Center of Photography
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Address: 79 Essex Street New York, NY 10002 United States
Architect: Gensler
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The International Center of Photography (ICP) enlisted Gensler to realize its 20-year goal of unifying its museum and school under one roof. As the cultural anchor of Essex Crossing, Gensler created a compelling visitor journey that supports ICP’s exhibitions, education programs, and public events. The Center features galleries, a research library, and the school. A bookshop, café, and event spaces add to the expansive space, which when combined, creates a dynamic destination for the community. Please note: this tour is accessible by wheelchair.
October 14th – The Playground at the Seagram Building
10:45am – 11:45am
Address: 375 Park Avenue New York, NY 10022 United States
Architect: STUDIOS Architecture
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Lying just below the Seagram Building’s iconic plaza and flanking fountains now sits one of the most unique amenities offerings in New York’s real estate market—The Playground. Accessed directly from the landmarked elevator cabs, the experience unfolds much like an athlete entering an arena. A tunnel-like entry leads to a color-washed multi-sport flex court surrounded by a variety of working and meeting spaces, creating unexpected proximities like rock climbing next to a board meeting. Please note: this tour is accessible by wheelchair.
October 15th – Publicis Groupe’s Le Truc Clubhouse
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Address: 375 Hudson St 15th Floor New York, NY 10014 United States
Architect: Architecture Plus Information (A+I)
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In reimagining a creative workplace experience, A+I collaborated with the French advertising giant Publicis Groupe on the company’s flagship building in Manhattan. The resulting ‘Clubhouse for Creativity’ is a space for their newly-formed collective, “Le Truc” – designed to support and unlock creativity across the organization. Conceptualized at the onset of the pandemic, the project is emblematic of the more flexible model of work and serves as the new center of gravity for Publicis. Please note: this tour is accessible by wheelchair.
October 16th – Senior Affordable Passive House
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Address: 37 Hillside Avenue New York, NY 10040 United States
Architect: Architecture in Formation, SLCE
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A striking copper and grey-striated stucco courtyard building is carved into the steep rocky hillside opposite Fort Tryon Park in northern Manhattan. The Albert is a new 164-unit 100% affordable senior residential community built to Passive House standards. The late-construction/near-completion hardhat tour will allow visitors behind the scenes of the design and construction of a state-of-the-art all-electric building designed to Passive House standards that’s also home to Rocky Mount Baptist Church. Please note: this is a hard-hat tour and is not accessible by wheelchair.
October 17th – Pier 26 at Hudson River Park
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Address: Pier 26, Hudson River Greenway New York, NY 10013 United States
Landscape Architect: OLIN
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Pier 26 at Hudson River Park is an immersive journey through transitions—from upland to lowland, from land to water—and across a diverse milieu of human experiences. Pier 26 is intuitive for users; it’s easy for anyone to find a comfortable, relaxing, or energizing place to be at all times and seasons. The park is a place of natural, social, and self-discovery, where one feels a sense of belonging and a connection to the natural world. Please note: this tour is accessible by wheelchair.
October 18th – Jewish Theological Seminary
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Address: 3080 Broadway New York, NY 10027 United States
Architect: Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects | Partners
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Founded in 1886, the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) is one of the premier Jewish institutions in the United States. To foster dialogue with a broader community, JTS sought to consolidate its holdings and reimagine its cloistered campus to be more open and inviting. The renovated and expanded campus now features a 208-seat auditorium, refreshed courtyard, new library with rare books collection, cafeteria, dormitory, and Moadon student-run space all connected by a central Light Court. Please note: this tour is accessible by wheelchair.
October 19th – The Gilder Center
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Address: American Museum of Natural History 200 Central Park West New York, NY 10024
Architect: Studio Gang
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The Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation is the latest addition to New York’s historic American Museum of Natural History. At a time of urgent need for better public understanding of science and greater access to science education, the Gilder Center is designed to amplify the intellectual impact of the Museum with experiential architecture that encourages exploration—drawing in people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to share the excitement of scientific discovery and learning about the natural world.
October 20th – Hauser & Wirth 22nd Street
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Address: 542 W 22nd St. New York, NY 10011 United States
Architect: Selldorf Architects
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Selldorf Architects has collaborated with Hauser & Wirth on its spaces internationally since the founding of the gallery in 1992. In each location, the goal is always to create strong, well-proportioned spaces that place art at the forefront of the visitor’s experience. This project is Selldorf’s first purpose-built, ground-up building with the Gallery. Subtly articulated, various scaled volumes of space throughout the 36,000 sf structure feature natural light and flexible configurations. Please note: this tour is accessible by wheelchair.
October 21st – NYU Bobst Library Special Collections – Group One
12:00pm – 1:00pm and 1:00pm – 2:00 pm
Address: 70 Washington Square South, Floor 2 New York, NY 10012
Architect: CannonDesign
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The Special Collections at NYU’s Bobst Library occupies two floors of the eleven-story library, located on the southeast corner of Washington Square Park. The design was inspired by the collections’ content, the building’s location in Greenwich Village, and the strong architectural character of Bobst Library, designed by Philip Johnson in the early 70s. The project includes a special collections reading room, galleries, classrooms, curatorial offices and workspaces, and compact material storage systems. Please note: this tour is accessible by wheelchair.
October 22nd – Melrose North
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Address: 341 East 162nd St The Bronx, NY 10451 United States
Architect: Curtis + Ginsberg Architects
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Melrose North serves as a beacon for Morrisania, connecting to the neighborhood’s historic fabric while embracing its future. Featuring a 120-ft mural welcoming residents and visitors to the Bronx, the building is scaled to the neighborhood yet modernly detailed. The 170 affordable apartments include 103 supportive units, with a community space run by DreamYard. Melrose North will be Passive House certified, featuring a solar array and robust, lushly planted outdoor areas. Please note: this tour is accessible by wheelchair.
October 23rd – Cathedral of St. John the Divine Crossing Dome Roof
1:00pm – 3:00pm
Address: 1047 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10019 United States
Architect: Ennead Architects
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Ennead and their consultants designed a new copper roof to protect the 120-year-old Guastavino tile dome over the Cathedral’s crossing and restored the interior of the dome. Our tour would include looking at the dome from street level, inside the Cathedral, and up close from an adjacent roof (that requires a 17-story climb). Please note: this tour is not accessible by wheelchair and will include climbing many stairs.
October 24th – Idlewild Park Salt Marsh Learning Center
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Address: 222-02 149 Avenue New York, NY 11413 United States
Architect: Handel Architects
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Designed for the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Idlewild Park Salt Marsh Environmental Science Learning Center offers classroom and exhibit space in the Idlewild Park Saltwater Marsh in Queens. By its location and form, the building tells the story of water in our urban habitat and acts like a porch to the wetland landscape beyond. Classrooms, an exhibit hall, and the entry space all frame the views around the site. Please note: this tour is accessible by wheelchair.
October 25th – One Madison Avenue
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Address: One Madison Avenue New York, NY 10010
Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF)
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The adaptive reuse of One Madison Avenue adds an 18-story tower atop an updated, mid-century podium. Structurally, this is achieved by deploying an innovative mega-column system to support the tower that minimizes interventions in the existing building. The limestone façade at the base is retained and repaired, while the new tower steps back from the neighboring landmarked clock tower, creating a dialogue between old and new. The design retains 67% of the building’s original structure, preserving a significant amount of embodied energy, and is forecast to result in an energy reduction of over 60% against the AIA 2030 Commitment baseline. The project is designed to comply today with the 2030 building emission targets determined by NYC’s Local Law 97. Please note: this tour is not accessible by wheelchair.
October 26th – Paulson Center
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Address: 181 Mercer St. New York, NY 10012
Architect: Davis Brody Bond, KieranTimberlake
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The Paulson Center is a vertical extension of the NYU campus comprised of unique programmatic ‘neighborhoods’ including specialized academic, athletic, performing arts, dining, and residential spaces connected to a multi-use Commons, fulfilling the academic community’s desire for transparent, wellness-oriented spaces while exceeding the University’s sustainability and energy-use goals. Please note: this tour is accessible by wheelchair.
October 27th – Pace University, 15 Beekman
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Address: 15 Beekman New York, NY 10038
Architect: Architecture Research Office (ARO)
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Conceived as a vertical campus, 15 Beekman Street is Pace University’s new student-centered academic and residential tower in lower Manhattan. The first 11 stories of the building, designed by the Architecture Research Office, feature nine dining concepts, a flexible, 200-person event space, a library with 50,000 volumes, spaces for individual and group study, as well as classrooms that support diverse modes of teaching and learning. Please note: this tour is accessible by wheelchair.
October 28th – Robert Olnick Pavilion, Magazzino Italian Art
12:00pm – 2:00pm
Address: 2700 Route 9 Cold Spring, NY 10516
Architect: Miguel Quismondo of MQ Architecture, Alberto Campo Baeza
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Join Archtober’s first tour upstate to The Robert Olnick Pavilion, the second building on Magazzino Italian Art’s campus is designed by architects Alberto Campo Baeza and Miguel Quismondo. The pavilion highlights industrial materials such as concrete to facilitate an aesthetically neutral environment to compliment the postwar and contemporary Italian art it will exhibit. The building includes the isotropic room, designed by Campo Baeza as a perfect cube, perforated with square windows at each corner, facilitating a constantly evolving stream of light. Please note: this tour is accessible by wheelchair.
October 29th – Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Address: 338 Lighthouse Ave Staten Island, NY 10306 United States
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The Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art — founded by Jacques Marchais (1887-1948), an important collector and respected expert — replicates the monasteries of Lhasa, containing unique artifacts reflecting art, history, culture, and spirituality of Tibet. Designed by Marchais, the rustic complex of fieldstone buildings resembles a Tibetan monastery. These historic buildings represent the first Himalayan-style architecture to be built in the U.S., and the first museum in the world devoted solely to Tibetan art. Please note: this tour is not accessible by wheelchair.
October 30th – Louis Armstrong Center
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Address: 34-56 107th St Queens, NY 11368
Architect: Caples Jefferson Architects
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The Louis Armstrong Center is across the street from the existing Louis Armstrong House Museum in the Corona section of Queens. the new two-story, 14,000-square-foot center celebrates the life and legacy of the legendary jazz trumpeter. The Center houses the 60,000-piece Louis Armstrong Archive, consisting of recordings, manuscripts, and personal artifacts, along with a reading room for visiting researchers.
There are no Building of the Day tours on October 12th or October 31st.
