Aperture Foundation Headquarters

Sciame was the Construction Manager responsible for the gut renovation and interior fit-out of the Aperture Foundation’s new headquarters, located in a mixed-use building on Manhattan’s Upper West Side across the street from the American Museum of Natural History.

The headquarters occupies the building’s ground floor, providing greater visibility for the organization’s exhibitions, bookstore, and public programming, while the cellar level houses additional offices for administrative and publication staff. A three-stop lift was installed at the entry mezzanine, providing wheelchair access to both the ground and cellar levels. Exterior work included the removal and replacement of the main entry door and sidelights at the building’s landmark facade to provide an ADA-accessible entrance.

The project required selective interior demolition of portions of the ground floor slab and excavation of the cellar floor for the installation of three sets of powder-coated steel architectural stairs featuring hidden stringers and open risers. Structural steel and concrete were also installed to integrate the new floor areas. Interior work included high-quality masonry restoration and new masonry, ceiling and wall framing, and limewash finishes on exposed brick surfaces. The completed space includes new MEP/AV/IT/FA systems, bathrooms, kitchenettes, full-height glass office partitions, polished concrete floors, and an extensive furniture package featuring custom powder-coated aluminum shelving systems, millwork desks, and built-ins.