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LOT-EK and Socrates Sculpture Park reveal renderings of “The Cubes”

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LOT-EK and Socrates Sculpture Park reveal renderings of “The Cubes”

In conjunction with New York’s Socrates Sculpture Park’s 30th anniversary, NYC Parks released the renderings for “The Cubes,” a two-story, 2,640-square-foot building that will house the park’s arts education, gallery, and administrative offices—the first permanent home for its facilities.

“Once an industrial landfill, Socrates Sculpture Park is now one of the city’s most exciting, interactive, and accessible spaces for public art,” said NYC Parks commissioner Mitchell Silver in a press release. “With the installation of The Cubes, Socrates will be able to host year-round programming, reaching even more New Yorkers. We’re grateful for our partnership with Socrates Sculpture Park and look forward to growing and expanding this cultural gem on the waterfront.”

The design, by local architecture firm LOT-EK incorporates LOT-EK’s original commission by the Whitney Museum of American Art, which hired the firm to create temporary offices for the museum when it was in the process of vacating the Met Breuer. The initial scheme used six shipping containers in a 720-square-foot-structure, so LOT-EK added 12 additional containers for 18 total to compose “The Cubes.” This architectural process reinforces the park’s mission to promote reclamation and revitalization as part of being a good environmental steward. Additionally, the firm added diagonal glass bands along the sides and roof of the structure, creating chevron patterned windows that offer floor-to-ceiling views of the park and provide transparency to visitors. The roof will feature solar panels. Within the footprint, 960 square feet will be used for an indoor multipurpose and education space, 480 square feet will be transformed into a deck area for outdoor programming, and 1,200 square feet will be offices and administration space.

“We are thrilled to create a new home that will expand our programmatic possibilities and secure our future as an arts organization in New York City,” said John Hatfield, Socrates Sculpture Park executive director, in a press release. “LOT-EK’s design is an innovative contemporary work of architecture that conceptually and aesthetically reflects the Park’s history, connects to the Park today, and provides a platform for its future.”

Currently, the park attracts more than 150,000 people each year with its contemporary art exhibitions and programming that includes an international film festival, dance, opera, jazz, and theater.


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