6sqft’s top 10 event picks for Archtober 2016
Now in its sixth year, Archtober is a month-long festival of architecture activities, programs, and exhibitions in New York City. From walking tours and rare opportunities to go inside some of the city’s most lauded buildings to panel discussions and film screenings, there’s something for everyone in this 100+ event roster. But 6sqft has hand-picked 10 events that are sure to be highlights of this year’s festival.
Architecture & Design Film Festival ↑
September 28-October 2; times vary, see schedule here
Cinépolis Chelsea, 260 West 23rd Street
Now in its eighth season, ADFF is the nation’s largest subject-focused film event, with over 30 features from around the world on the topics of architecture and design. Curated by festival founder and architect Kyle Bergman, highlights of this year’s lineup are: a piece on the life of modernist architect Eero Saarinen; “Where Architects Live,” a film that takes us into the privates homes and lives of major architects such as the late Zaha Hadid, Shigeru Ban, and Daniel Libeskind; and a documentary about Carmel Place, the city’s first micro-housing development.
AIANY Around Manhattan Architecture Boat Tour ↑
All month; times vary, see schedule here
Chelsea Piers, Pier 62, at 22nd Street
$78; $58 for students
At almost three hours, this tour along the Hudson, East, and Harlem rivers will certainly help hone your NYC architectural knowledge. Plus, it’s hosted aboard the Manhattan or Manhattan II, 1920s-inspired yachts, and includes complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a drink. You’ll circumnavigate Manhattan, passing under all 18 bridges, while taking in monuments, architecture, parks and infrastructure.
Hidden History of the South Street Seaport’s Architecture ↑
Saturday, October 1, Sunday, October 2, Saturday, October 29, Sunday, October 30; 3:00-4:00pm
South Street Seaport Museum, box office at 12 Fulton Street
$15
This walking tour offers insight into some of the oldest standing structures in Manhattan. From rat pits to a warehouse built by one of America’s most famous 19th century architects, the Seaport District walk will tell the story of the rise of New York.
Photo via The Architectural Review
Building of the Day: New York State Pavilion ↑
Thursday, October 6; 12:00-1:00pm
New York State Pavilion, Flushing Meadows Corona Park
$10
It’s not every day ordinary folk get the chance to go behind the gates of Philip Johnson’s iconic New York State Pavilion in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, one of the last remnants from the 1964-5 World’s Fair. After sitting in disrepair for decades, restoration efforts have gotten underway in recent years, including a $3 million paint job and a $5.8 million commitment from the city. Now’s your chance to get a look inside before the work begins.
Image © Turnstile Tours
Brooklyn Navy Yard: Sustainable Architecture & Industry Bike Tour ↑
Saturday, October 8; 11:00am-1:00pm
Brooklyn Navy Yard Center at BLDG 92
$25; $22.50 for seniors; $12.50 for children 5-11
Jump on a bike and find out how the Brooklyn Navy Yard went from one of the country’s largest naval shipbuilding facilities to a leading sustainable industrial park. You’ll explore most of the Yard’s 300 acres, learning about the adaptive reuse of historic buildings, environmentally friendly manufacturing practices, green infrastructure and storm water management, and alternative energy projects.
The Architecture of Remembrance ↑
Thursday, October 13; 7:00-8:00pm
National September 11 Memorial & Museum, 180 Greenwich Street
Free
Join the the principal architects of the 9/11 Memorial (Michael Arad of Handel Architects), the Flight 93 National Memorial near Shanksville, Pennsylvania (Paul Murdoch), and the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Virginia (Julie Beckman of KBAS) as they “reflect on the relationship between architecture and remembrance, and the significance of place and public memory.”
Construction Realities – Cornell Tech ↑
Wednesday, October 19; 6:00-8:00pm
AIA New York Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place
$10; free for AIA members
When it opens on Roosevelt Island in 2017, Cornell Tech will boast the world’s tallest Passive House project, a 270-foot, 350-unit residential building for students and faculty. Join the project team as they discuss their experiences with this project in both design and construction management.
Behind the Slice ↑
Thursday, October 20; 6:00-8:00pm
Parsons East Building, 25 East 13th Street, Room E206
Free
Pizza and architecture don’t seem to go together, but this panel of “pizza industry experts” will discuss how New York’s favorite food relates to materials and manufacturing, history, design, and environmental impact. They’ll also take a look at the future of pizza culture.
Building of the Day: 520 West 28th Street ↑
Monday, October 24; 12:00-1:00pm
520 West 28th Street
$10
* This event is sold out, but you can add your name to the waitlist
The only building currently in NYC by the late, great Zaha Hadid, 520 West 28th Street is a boutique condo along the High Line. The Pritzker Prize-winning starchitect employed her signature curves here, which on the exterior create futuristic-looking chevrons that give way to exterior terraces, and on the interior give way to 39 unique residences. This is an extremely special opportunity to tour the building before its completion.
Rendering of the QueensWay courtesy of Friend of the QueensWay, WXY Studio Architecture + Urban Design and dlandstudio
Walk the QueensWay ↑
Meeting location provided after ticket purchase
Saturday, October 29; 11:00am
$30; $20 for Municipal Art Society members
Guides from the Trust for Public Land and Friends of the QueensWay will lead you on a 2.5-mile walk along the northern section of the High Line-esque linear park and cultural greenway proposed for a 3.5-mile stretch of abandoned railway in central Queens. The tour will start at the historic Forest Hills Gardens and include time on the streets adjoining the QueensWay, as well as a walk on the rail bed and through a ravine in Forest Park.
+++
Learn more about Archtober here, and view the full calendar of events.
RELATED:
