Marian Goodman Gallery’s new flagship at 385 Broadway transforms the historic 1875 Grosvenor Buildings into a 35,000-square-foot contemporary art space that bridges past and present. The adaptive reuse project preserves the buildings’ original cast-iron façades, finished in a two-tone gray palette, while introducing modern interventions that enhance openness, flexibility, and connectivity with the city. Designed as mirror-image structures unified by a centrally peaked roof and bracketed cornices, the buildings retain their warehouse character, originally housing dry goods and textile tenants, while accommodating the needs of a contemporary gallery.
Three expansive floors of galleries and viewing rooms are supported by two floors of below-grade storage and offices and workshops on the upper levels. Column-free interiors—including a 55-by-26-foot ground-floor gallery—maximize uninterrupted exhibition space. Large archways, shaped from the original brickwork, and restored exposed wood ceiling joists celebrate the industrial heritage, while walnut accents—including custom door pulls, a staircase railing, a reception desk, book displays, private library shelving, and directors’ office millwork—introduce warmth and refinement. Ceiling heights reach up to 15 feet 10 inches on the first floor, 13 feet 6 inches on the second, and 12 feet 6 inches on the third, reinforcing the sense of openness.
The reorganization of circulation, moving elevators and stairs to the rear, ensures clear, uninterrupted gallery flow. Extensive street-level glazing activates Broadway, dissolving the boundary between interior and exterior and inviting the public into the gallery program. This thoughtful integration of preservation, contemporary design, and sustainability allows the building to function seamlessly for diverse contemporary art practices while honoring its historical context.
By balancing historic character with modern interventions, Marian Goodman Gallery’s 385 Broadway project enriches Tribeca’s cultural landscape, creating a dynamic, light-filled environment that engages visitors, showcases international contemporary art, and establishes a bold new home for the gallery’s program.
Design Team: Markus Dochantschi, Beatriz de Uña Bóveda, Keren Bao, Lucie Alioth
