Built / NYC
SculptureCenter
Built/NYC was an initiative by the New York City Department of Design and Construction in conjunction with the Department of Cultural Affairs. Built/NYC aimed to add extra value to city building projects and give New York City–based designers more exposure by incorporating their designs into public building projects. We were selected as one of three finalists to design indoor/outdoor seating for the galleries and courtyard of SculptureCenter, a not-for-profit arts institute in Long Island City dedicated to experimental and innovative developments in contemporary sculpture.
Through a diagrammatic analysis examining the types of installations, performances, screenings, and other activities requiring seated accommodation within both the interior gallery spaces of the building and its exterior courtyard, we developed a design that is durable and weather-resistant enough for a variety of uses and frequent relocation, yet also lightweight for flexible transport.
Made from spun metal (potentially copper, brass, steel, or aluminum), the seats are stackable, drainable, and protected at their edges by a rubber trim. The new seats allow greater adaptability for a wider range of activities, and their rearrangement becomes a performative act in itself.
| Location | New York, NY |
| Type | Civic / Culture |
| Area | Galleries 8,500 ft2 / 790 m2 Courtyard 1,500 ft2 / 140 m2 |
| Status | Design Development |
| Year | 2014 |
| Client | NYC Department of Design and Construction, BUILT/NYC NYC Department of Cultural Affairs SculptureCenter |
| Team | Bettina Zerza, Principal Seth Embry, Carolina Ihle |
Collaboration
Places of Cultural Significance in Long Island City
Viewer’s Perception of Art
Scales of Art
Seating Arrangements for Performances, Events and Screenings
