Contract - June 2015 - 88

How is a 21st century museum building supposed
to look? That question has been debated among
architects, designers, critics, New Yorkers, and
tourists as the new Whitney Museum of American
Art opened last month. In his design, Renzo Piano
does not offer a definitive answer, but illustrates
that a solution that responds to a rapidly evolving
context is challenging to resolve.
Situated on the western end of Gansevoort
Street where it meets the West Side Highway near
the Hudson River in the Meatpacking District,
immediately next to the southern entrance to the
High Line and just north of the West Village, the new
Whitney is lucky in location. It's in the heart of a
radically changing corner of the city. What was once
a desolate edge of a forlorn, grimy industrial district
is now a nexus of art (Chelsea galleries just blocks
away), real estate, money, fashion, and tourism.
Some have criticized the odd juxtaposition
of the canted museum massing of white metal panels,
steel, concrete, and glass with this historic
neighborhood. But, to be sure, it's a neighborhood
of meatpacking buildings turned boutiques and
restaurants, a rail line evolved as an elevated park,

and warehouses turned into some of the priciest
residences in the city. The past-faintly visible-is
jettisoned for a view of the future, and the museum
is now the centerpiece.
Designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop
in collaboration with New York firm Cooper Robertson,
the new Whitney is not a perfectly rectilinear
glass-enclosed jewel box that some may expect
from Piano-that would have been odd and even
perverse here. In form, the building expresses
a rawness and urbanity, and may even be inelegant
or hulking from certain angles. Clearly visible cooling
towers on the museum's roof mimic New York
water towers, and exterior staircases are reminiscent
of fire escapes. A bold presence that is perhaps
inspired by Italian Futurist Antonio Sant'Elia's
drawings in its jagged, angular forms, the museum
owns its location. And when viewed from the river's
edge, it even appears as a hard-edged cousin to
Frank Gehry's IAC building just a few blocks north.
Extending and enhancing the public realm
At the street level, Gansevoort Street is now alive
with activity from the High Line entrance across

the largo, or plaza, that Piano designed spanning
across to the museum's entrance-it's a new
public space that is an extension of the High Line's
public realm and the museum lobby. Here, the open,
airy connection between inside and out along
a welcoming public plaza is reminiscent of the indooroutdoor relationship of Centre Pompidou in Paris,
which Piano had designed with Richard Rogers four
decades ago.
Inside, the $422 million, 220,000-square-foot
museum is considerably larger than the 85,000-square
foot Whitney Museum on Madison Avenue by Marcel
Breuer. And its 50,000 square feet of gallery space
is an increase from the 33,000 square feet of galleries
in the Upper East Side location, which is now being
leased by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The lobby, with floor-to-ceiling glass on three
sides, includes a satellite gallery and a restaurant
by Danny Meyer. Patrons take elevators to the
primary gallery floors that are on the fifth through
the eighth levels. On the top floor, a 4,500-squarefoot gallery has natural light from a series of sawtooth
skylights in the ceiling. From there down, the gallery
floors become larger, and the details, finishes, and

Whitney Museum
of American Art
Architect Renzo Piano Building
Workshop in collaboration
with Cooper Robertson
Client Whitney Museum
of American Art
Where New York
What 220,000 total square
feet on nine floors
Cost/sf $1,130
For a full project source list,
see page 130 or visit
contractdesign.com.

88

contractdesign.com

JUNE 2015


http://www.contractdesign.com http://www.contractdesign.com

Contract - June 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract - June 2015

Contract - June 2015
Contents
Editorial
Industry News
Columnist: Retaining the Next Generation of Leaders
At Home at Work
NeoConĀ® Preview
Whitney Museum of American Art
Volksbank
City of Rotterdam Municipal Offices
Index Ventures
Thumbtack
Designers Select: Seating
Sources
Ad Index
Preview: SHoP Architects and Studio O+A Design New Uber Headquarters
Contract - June 2015 - Intro
Contract - June 2015 - Contract - June 2015
Contract - June 2015 - Cover2
Contract - June 2015 - 1
Contract - June 2015 - 2
Contract - June 2015 - 3
Contract - June 2015 - 4
Contract - June 2015 - 5
Contract - June 2015 - 6
Contract - June 2015 - 7
Contract - June 2015 - Contents
Contract - June 2015 - 9
Contract - June 2015 - 10
Contract - June 2015 - 11
Contract - June 2015 - 12
Contract - June 2015 - 13
Contract - June 2015 - 14
Contract - June 2015 - 15
Contract - June 2015 - 16
Contract - June 2015 - 17
Contract - June 2015 - 18
Contract - June 2015 - 19
Contract - June 2015 - 20
Contract - June 2015 - 21
Contract - June 2015 - 22
Contract - June 2015 - 23
Contract - June 2015 - 24
Contract - June 2015 - 25
Contract - June 2015 - 26
Contract - June 2015 - 27
Contract - June 2015 - Editorial
Contract - June 2015 - 29
Contract - June 2015 - 30
Contract - June 2015 - 31
Contract - June 2015 - 32
Contract - June 2015 - 33
Contract - June 2015 - Industry News
Contract - June 2015 - 35
Contract - June 2015 - 36
Contract - June 2015 - 37
Contract - June 2015 - 38
Contract - June 2015 - 39
Contract - June 2015 - 40
Contract - June 2015 - 41
Contract - June 2015 - 42
Contract - June 2015 - 43
Contract - June 2015 - Columnist: Retaining the Next Generation of Leaders
Contract - June 2015 - 45
Contract - June 2015 - 46
Contract - June 2015 - 47
Contract - June 2015 - 48
Contract - June 2015 - 49
Contract - June 2015 - At Home at Work
Contract - June 2015 - 51
Contract - June 2015 - NeoConĀ® Preview
Contract - June 2015 - 53
Contract - June 2015 - 54
Contract - June 2015 - 55
Contract - June 2015 - 56
Contract - June 2015 - 57
Contract - June 2015 - 58
Contract - June 2015 - 59
Contract - June 2015 - 60
Contract - June 2015 - 61
Contract - June 2015 - 62
Contract - June 2015 - 63
Contract - June 2015 - 64
Contract - June 2015 - 65
Contract - June 2015 - 66
Contract - June 2015 - 67
Contract - June 2015 - 68
Contract - June 2015 - 69
Contract - June 2015 - 70
Contract - June 2015 - 71
Contract - June 2015 - 72
Contract - June 2015 - 73
Contract - June 2015 - 74
Contract - June 2015 - 75
Contract - June 2015 - 76
Contract - June 2015 - 77
Contract - June 2015 - 78
Contract - June 2015 - 79
Contract - June 2015 - 80
Contract - June 2015 - 81
Contract - June 2015 - 82
Contract - June 2015 - 83
Contract - June 2015 - 84
Contract - June 2015 - 85
Contract - June 2015 - Whitney Museum of American Art
Contract - June 2015 - 87
Contract - June 2015 - 88
Contract - June 2015 - 89
Contract - June 2015 - 90
Contract - June 2015 - 91
Contract - June 2015 - 92
Contract - June 2015 - 93
Contract - June 2015 - 94
Contract - June 2015 - 95
Contract - June 2015 - 96
Contract - June 2015 - 97
Contract - June 2015 - Volksbank
Contract - June 2015 - 99
Contract - June 2015 - 100
Contract - June 2015 - 101
Contract - June 2015 - 102
Contract - June 2015 - 103
Contract - June 2015 - 104
Contract - June 2015 - 105
Contract - June 2015 - City of Rotterdam Municipal Offices
Contract - June 2015 - 107
Contract - June 2015 - 108
Contract - June 2015 - 109
Contract - June 2015 - 110
Contract - June 2015 - 111
Contract - June 2015 - 112
Contract - June 2015 - 113
Contract - June 2015 - Index Ventures
Contract - June 2015 - 115
Contract - June 2015 - 116
Contract - June 2015 - 117
Contract - June 2015 - 118
Contract - June 2015 - 119
Contract - June 2015 - 120
Contract - June 2015 - 121
Contract - June 2015 - Thumbtack
Contract - June 2015 - 123
Contract - June 2015 - 124
Contract - June 2015 - 125
Contract - June 2015 - 126
Contract - June 2015 - 127
Contract - June 2015 - Designers Select: Seating
Contract - June 2015 - 129
Contract - June 2015 - Sources
Contract - June 2015 - 131
Contract - June 2015 - 132
Contract - June 2015 - 133
Contract - June 2015 - Ad Index
Contract - June 2015 - 135
Contract - June 2015 - Preview: SHoP Architects and Studio O+A Design New Uber Headquarters
Contract - June 2015 - Cover3
Contract - June 2015 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/20200405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/20200203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/womeninbusiness_2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/20190607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/onpp-foresight_2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/20190102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/womeninbusiness_2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/20180708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/20180102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/2017neocon
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/20170708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/2016neocon
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/2015neocon
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/2014neocon
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/iida_red2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/contract/201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201310_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_20130708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_20130708_neocon_supplement
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_20130102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_ncw_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_20120102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_20111112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_2011neoconwinners
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_20110102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_20101112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_20100708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_20100102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_200911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_200909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_200908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_200907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_200906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_200905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_200904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_200903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_200902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nielsen/contract_200901
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com