studioMDA restores tribeca building for marian goodman gallery

Transforming new york History into a modern Vision

The Marian Goodman Gallery’s much-anticipated move to Tribeca marks a pivotal chapter in its storied history. Open from October 26th through December 14th, 2024, the inaugural exhibition, Your Patience Is Appreciated celebrates the diverse and multi-generational roster of artists who define the gallery’s program. Showcasing over seventy-five works across three floors of restored space, the exhibition underscores the gallery’s unwavering commitment to artistic integrity and innovation. As Managing Partner Rose Lord notes, ‘The opening of our Tribeca space marks the first time in nearly a decade that the full spectrum of our artists is being presented at one time.‘

Integral to this transformation is studioMDA, the architectural firm that reimagined the historic Grosvenor Building. Retaining its 19th-century cast-iron facade and exposed brick walls, studioMDA balanced preservation with modernity, creating an environment tailored to Marian Goodman’s ambitious vision. ‘The gallery includes large archways between rooms,’ studioMDA founder Markus Dochantschi tells designboom in an interview. ‘Using original forms and new finishes, we create an aesthetic both timeless and historically informed.’

Marian Goodman Gallery’s new flagship at the Grosvenor Building on 385 Broadway, New York. image © Alex Yudzon

marian goodman gallery designed for Artistic Interaction

The new interiors for Marian Goodman Gallery emphasize fluidity and connection, allowing for an engaging dialogue between visitors and artworks. ‘The exhibition spaces are designed to be flexible and to be subdivided as needed, to fit the scale of particular artworks and shows. Located in the east of the building, they capture the morning light,’ Dochantschi explained. Strategic placement of galleries along Broadway transforms the street-facing facade into a ‘street gallery,’ engaging passersby and integrating the space into the neighborhood’s vibrant fabric.

For the architects at studioMDA, the project was a celebration of Tribeca’s architectural identity. Having worked on numerous galleries in the neighborhood, Dochantschi reflected, ‘The best way to innovate in this historic context is to listen to the building and augment what exists.’ The result is a space that bridges Tribeca’s industrial heritage with the gallery’s contemporary aspirations, setting the stage for decades of artistic exploration. Read the full interview below!

installation view, Your Patience is Appreciated: An Inaugural Show, Marian Goodman Gallery, New York, 2024. image © Alex Yudzon

dialogue with studiomda

designboom (DB): The Grosvenor Building has a long history and architectural character. What were the guiding principles behind preserving its historic features while transforming it into a modern art gallery?

studioMDA (MDA): It was always essential to maintain the character of the building. For us, that imperative is part and parcel of creating the best contemporary gallery space. For instance, we exposed the wood joists in the ceiling, which maximized ceiling height. It also reveals layers of history — the original 1875 beams are interspersed with newer sections, pointing to the building’s history of renovations. They’ve been stained dark walnut color, to maintain a neutral gallery space conducive to viewing art.

But the history is there for those who look, and that’s what gives each of our galleries a unique presence. The gallery also includes large archways between rooms — many people don’t realize the shape, beneath crisp white walls, is of the building’s original brickwork. Using original forms and new finishes, we create an aesthetic both timeless and historically informed. It is dually international in taste and dependent on local, neighborhood history.

installation view, Your Patience is Appreciated: An Inaugural Show, Marian Goodman Gallery, New York, 2024. image © Alex Yudzon

DB: How did the design of the space — across exhibition floors, transitional areas, and the library — aim to generate specific types of interactions between the works and the visitors?

MDA: We had to create the best space for art we could, without knowing the particular pieces. The exhibition spaces are designed to be flexible and to be subdivided as needed, to fit the scale of particular artworks and shows. Located in the east of the building, they capture the morning light. There’s something about natural light that’s more luscious, more energizing. Allowing natural light into the space is one of the best things we can do for the artworks, and for visitors. The fact that the gallery spaces are located directly on the Broadway side of the building, gives artwork exposure to everyone passing by, becoming a street gallery in a way and capturing the interest of visitors who glanze at it.

installation view, Your Patience is Appreciated: An Inaugural Show, Marian Goodman Gallery, New York, 2024. image © Alex Yudzon

DB: What challenges or insights emerged in creating a 35,000-square-foot gallery within a 19th-century building, and how did these experiences influence the final design?

MDA: Balancing the large scale of the project with the feel of a gallery was our greatest challenge. The architectural history of the building, luckily, provided many of its own answers. The newly renovated gallery pays homage to the iconic, bare-bones gallery spaces of New York’s 20th-century downtown arts scene, often featuring open ceilings and exposed building systems while elevating the concept.

installation view, Your Patience is Appreciated: An Inaugural Show, Marian Goodman Gallery, New York, 2024. image © Alex Yudzon

DB: With studioMDA’s expertise in cultural spaces and its knowledge of Tribeca, how did you tailor your approach to both respect and innovate within the historic neighborhood?

MDA: We’ve designed fourteen galleries in Tribeca, and have an expansive knowledge of the building topography. Expansive, high-ceilinged, formerly industrial cast-iron buildings provide beautiful spaces for galleries, and we’re well accustomed to working in them. But innovation relies on individuality—each project is its own. The best way to respect and to innovate in the historic neighborhood is to listen to the building, and its form, and find ways to celebrate and augment what exists.