Studio Museum in Harlem

Sciame was the Construction Manager responsible for the new five-story, 82,000 SF Studio Museum in Harlem, replacing the institution’s former home. The building features expanded gallery spaces, a dedicated art receiving area, a store and café, operations offices, and a climate-controlled gallery preparation suite.

Designed to strengthen the museum’s connection to the community, the enlarged lobby engages directly with 125th Street and can transform into a flexible civic space. Operable glass doors open to descending steps leading to the 139-seat public lobby known as “the stoop,” a free gathering space that serves as seating for lectures, performances, films, and informal public use.

A monumental terrazzo-clad stair connects the lower level to the fourth floor through a central vertical gallery, linking exhibition spaces designed for contemporary two- and three-dimensional works of varying scale and media. Artist-in-residence studios and education spaces are located adjacent to galleries to encourage community engagement. A large passenger elevator with 12-foot-high doors was designed to accommodate oversized artworks and allow the Museum to maneuver large pieces throughout the building.

The exterior is composed of more than 300 unique precast panels, with both polished and etched finishes, some weighing over 15 tons, and is anchored to a steel and masonry structure. Niches in the facade on both the 125th and 124th Street elevations provide space for exterior sculptures and installations.

Additional features include a rooftop terrace with landscape design by Harlem-based Studio Zewde, a café operated by local restaurant Settepani, and four exterior art niches for sculpture and installations.