West Side Rag
  • TOP NEWS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • CONTACT
  • TOP NEWS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • CONTACT
West Side Rag
No Result
View All Result
Get WSR FREE in your inbox

Search the site

No Result
View All Result

Get WSR FREE in your inbox

How Do You Turn a Century-Old Church into a Child-Friendly Museum? An Architect Explains and Shows New Renderings

December 9, 2020 | 1:00 PM
in HISTORY, NEWS, REAL ESTATE
4


Cross-sectional view of interior of CMOM’s future home. © FXCollaborative, 2020.

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is building a new home in an unlikely spot — the landmark First Church of Christ, Scientist on Central Park West and 96th Street. It’s quite a task, and the design took a while to pass muster with the Landmarks Preservation Commission. It’s arguably the most ambitious architectural project in the neighborhood in decades.

The museum, now located at 212 West 83rd Street, is moving so it can have more space. The 86,000 square foot new museum (68,000 will be occupiable) will nearly triple its exhibition space.

The main auditorium of the church, with its 60-foot barrel-vaulted ceiling, will be split into two floors. And floors will be added elsewhere in the church too. There will even be special exhibition space in the attic area, and a new outdoor terrace that people access by traveling on a glass elevator within the steeple.


Rendering of CMOM’s future home at 361 Central Park West, restored and revitalized by FXCollaborative. Image © Darcstudio, 2020.

Now the architect, who says she’s been fascinated by this building for years, is explaining how she conceived of the challenge. Sylvia Smith, a senior partner at architecture firm FXCollaborative. wrote a statement about how she conceptualized the design. The design “maintains the building’s strong relationship between its light-filled interior spaces and stately exterior presence. It renews the hopefulness and optimism of the original Beaux-Arts structure as the building once again becomes a place of exploration, gathering, and celebration open to all,” she wrote.

The whole statement is here.

FX has sent out more renderings above and below. A design company called Local Projects will help create the exhibition space. The museum has said the building is expected to open in 2023.


Elevation of Eastern façade of CMOM’s future home. Image © FXCollaborative, 2020.


Sketch of interior central vault of CMOM’s future home. © FXCollaborative, 2020.

guest
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

4 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Lizzie
Lizzie
1 year ago

So glad this is really happening. The renderings look wonderful. A unique space, a great organization…I think I’ll have to borrow child for a visit when it opens.

0
Reply
Barbara Garson
Barbara Garson
1 year ago

Too bad the church auditorium can’t be preserved in tact. It has amazing acoustics. My husband and I once sneaked in and were shocked to be able to speak quietly from the front and hear with brilliance from the back. I mentioned the vacant church to a couple of theater groups. But they couldn’t afford it then and certainly not now. Maybe the Children’s Museum can install temporary dividers that can be removed to use the incredible auditorium for children’s plays and musicals. Barbara Garson

0
Reply
Michelle
Michelle
1 year ago

So grateful that the beautiful building will be used for the community. The location is great for families as the subway & park is right there. My kids are grown but I think we will still pay it a visit once it is open.

0
Reply
rteplow
rteplow
1 year ago

I’m an architect and know Sylvia Smith. She is terrific and this project is in good hands.

0
Reply

YOU MIGHT LIKE...

St. Agnes Library Closing Saturday Until December
ART

St. Agnes Library Closing Saturday Until December

August 10, 2022 | 2:50 PM
Come to Blues BBQ Festival This Saturday, August 13, in a New Location — Pier 76
NEWS

Come to Blues BBQ Festival This Saturday, August 13, in a New Location — Pier 76

August 10, 2022 | 2:02 PM
0
SHARES
6
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Previous Post

Eviction Case Notice Posted on Cesca’s Door

Next Post

West End Avenue ‘Open Street’ Is Coming Back, With a Whole New Setup

this week's events image

Explore Your Favorite Subject

20th precinct 24th precinct american museum of natural history animals art bicycling bulletin central park closings columns community board 7 coronavirus crash crime development dogs events fdny fire food gale brewer helen rosenthal history jcc lincoln center monday bulletin morning bulletin nypd openings pedestrian safety photography photos politics public schools pupper west side real estate restaurants retail riverside park silver stars fitness snow sponsored subway upper west side uws

CITY NEWS

Brick Underground
City Limits
Eater
Gothamist
NY Daily News
NY Post
NY Times

LOCAL RESOURCES

Bloomingdale Neighborhood History Group
Central Park Conservancy
CB7
Community Education Council 3
Assembly District 67
The New York Historical Society
Riverside Park
West End Preservation

UWS Blogs

Bloomingdale History Central Park Blogger
North River Notes
Next Post
Cars Keep Driving Down the West End Avenue ‘Open Street’, Endangering Pedestrians

West End Avenue 'Open Street' Is Coming Back, With a Whole New Setup

Photo of the Day: Snowfall Was Breathtaking But Didn’t Stick Around Long

Photo of the Day: Snowfall Was Breathtaking But Didn't Stick Around Long

Humpback Whale Spotted in the Hudson

Humpback Whale Spotted in the Hudson

  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT US
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • THIS WEEK’S EVENTS
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TERMS OF USE
  • SITE MAP
Site design by RLDGROUP

© 2022 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • TOP NEWS
  • THIS WEEK’S EVENTS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • CONTACT US

© 2022 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.