Press
Oculus, 07/16/14
In the News
By Linda G. Miller | web link
BRAC Brightens The Bronx
Construction has begun on the Sage and Coombe Architects-designed renovation of the Bronx River Art Center (BRAC), bordering the newly reclaimed Bronx River Greenway in the borough’s West Farms section. BRAC’s mission to foster arts education within a framework of environmental stewardship served as inspiration for the design. Upon completion in 2016, the 18,000-square-foot, four-story, 100-year-old former warehouse will be brought into compliance with current standards for life safety, egress, and accessibility. The design includes flexible and day-lighted classroom studios, a media lab, a pottery studio, and several multi-purpose classrooms. A public event space on the ground floor opens onto the garden and the Bronx River, providing the center with a visible presence and link to the community. In addition, the project features an accessible green roof, operable low-E glazing, and high albedo materials to minimize heat gain and increase energy efficiency. It is expected to achieve a LEED Silver certification. Supergraphics that wrap the façade, designed in collaboration with artist Tatfoo Tan,are applied with paint with perforated vinyl adhesive on the fenestration. The supergraphics allude to the historic advertising that used to be painted on buildings, and act as a cost-effective way to promote the activities taking place within. This project is part of the NYC Department of Design + Construction’s Design Excellence initiative. The project won a Merit Award for an Unbuilt Design in the 2011 AIANY Design Awards. The project also received a Design Award in 2010 from the Public Design Commission.