The new 303 Gallery is a 12,000 square-foot ground-up development in the Chelsea gallery district. MSA collaborated with the world-renowned Foster and Partners who were the architects of the residential tower above the gallery.
Located on 21st Street and 11th Avenue, the building’s footprint is a trapezoidal space. The greatest challenge was including the typical “white box” exhibition room without disrupting the space’s flow. Divided into a rectangle and triangle, all of the vertical circulation is located within the triangle, as well as three private viewing rooms and a grand reception area on 21st Street. The remaining 33 by 61-foot rectangular space is left open for large exhibitions with 21-foot ceilings and incredible natural illumination from the all-glass façade. The linearity gives to the efficient layout and the minimal circulation required for the space to function. The gallery also opens to a private outdoor sculpture garden.
An origami-inspired raw-steel stairway “folds” its way up through a narrow triangle to the second floor, housing glass offices for six directors, art storage, and various support spaces. To allow column-free space below, concrete transfer beams take the load from the residential tower above and become a feature of the office space.
The interior’s palette and color composition consists primarily of polished concrete, glass, wood and steel. The use of rich woods for the millwork pieces and office floors, and the wood louvered ceiling system attribute warmth to the interior.
Project Credits
Principal-in-Charge: Shea Murdock
Project Architect: Satoi Akimoto
Project Designer: Joshua Morgenstern
Staff: Byongjun Lee, JeongEun Sho
Design Architect (Residential Tower): Foster + Partners
Executive Architect: Beyer Blinder Belle
303 Gallery Architect: Murdock Solon Architects
Structural Engineer: DeSimone
Consulting Engineers MEP: Buro Happold
Consulting Engineers Construction Manager:
Triton Construction Company
