2CC

April 16th, 2008 at 03:35pm Lauren

Photo credit: Allied Works Architecture

Spring has arrived in New York! It’s evident throughout the City- but most of all, at its heart in Central Park, where hues of green, white, and violet are filling out the expanse.

At Central Park’s Southwest corner, 2 Columbus Circle (2CC) too is emerging- from 3 years of active construction behind a shroud- to house MAD’s multi-disciplinary arts & design programming in incredibly expanded facilities.

As manager of the New Building Project, I’ve had the unique experience of working with the building’s many team members- from the architects, engineers, construction managers, interior designers, and graphic designers, to city supporters and community partners. We have all waited with baited breath to see the unveiling of 2CC and the realization of a unique material concept for the building façade- which is taking place right now.

The Museum and its architect have given this building new life with an exterior clad in 22,000 hand-glazed ceramic tiles. Ceramic is a material close to the Museum’s heart and a material that nicely contrasts the concrete, brick, metal, and glass otherwise seen around Columbus Circle.
The tiles were glazed (a process involving the architect, a glaze artist, and a 500 year old Dutch tile company) with a finish that reflects subtle, iridescent hues from gold to violet, depending on the position of the sun, clouds, and city lights at night.

I was fortunate to be with a group of Museum leaders and building team members on the first morning that the shroud began to come down. The early morning light on the tiles is breathtaking!

This is merely the first phase of public unveiling toward our opening in September 2008 and a worthy milestone for the Museum, the building, and the Columbus Circle community. I hope that many New York residents will have the chance to witness this revitalization as the scaffolding is completely removed in the next 2 weeks!

Entry Filed under: new building