Located on New York's East Village, this careful, contemporary intervention into a 1920s ConEd substation introduces galleries on four floors while retaining the building’s industrial ethos. The 16,000 SF structure was also the home and studio of artist Walter De Maria from the mid-1980s until his death in 2013. This new gallery is a perfect complement to the Brant Foundation’s Greenwich, CT, Art Study Center completed by Gluckman Tang in 2009.

The building’s open plan is the ideal space for art installations, especially large-scale paintings and sculpture. Many of the historic features - including the landmarked north façade, steel and wire-glass interior stair, manually operated 50-ton gantry, and historic brick were retained and restored.

Design challenges included concealing a new museum-grade HVAC system and designing compatible interventions including an industrial-sized elevator, over-sized art loading floor hatch chain hoist system, and a new 3-story window on the south façade. Natural light filters throughout the building culminating in a 10’ x 12’ skylight that is also a roof-terrace reflecting pool. Light filters through the water creating an ever changing visitor experience.