The 92nd Street Y rebrands as 92NY and kicks off $200M redevelopment
All renderings courtesy of Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners LLP
A New York institution is getting a makeover—and a new name. The 92nd Street Y announced on Tuesday it has rebranded to 92nd Street Y, New York (with a nickname of 92NY), as part of a post-pandemic transformation that also involves a major revamp and new online programs. This month, a $200 million redevelopment of the organization’s Upper East Side home at 1395 Lexington Avenue led by Beyer Blinder Belle will begin, starting with a renovation of its public performance space, a new dance center, and improvements to the gym.
Photo by Ajay Suresh on Wikimedia
First established in the 1870s as the Young Men’s Hebrew Association, the 92nd Street Y, New York has offered New Yorkers diverse culture, arts, and entertainment programming for nearly 150 years. In response to the pandemic, 92NY in 2020 shifted all of its content online, allowing for a much larger audience.
Previously welcoming about 300,000 people per year in person, 92NY saw roughly six million streaming views for over 2,000 programs created during the pandemic, according to the institution.
‘The pandemic challenged 92NY to reimagine how we carry out our mission of enrichment and community building – a mission which is desperately needed today,” Seth Pinsky, CEO of 92NY, said in a statement.
“We came to realize that the only viable option over the long-term is to embrace transformational change. We are now rapidly effectuating this evolution, reimagining our organization from top to bottom – from how we present who we are to a worldwide audience, to how we connect with people, whether it be in-person or online.”
The transformation coincides with a long-in-the-works top-to-bottom renovation of its headquarters. Kicking off this month, the first phase of the multi-phase master plan involves a full renovation of public performance center Buttenwieser Hall, a new art dance center, and upgrades to the May Center gym. This phase will cost $24 million and is fully funded.
In addition to the new name, the organization’s transformation includes a new logo, designed by a team at Pentagram led by Michael Bierut. A campaign showcasing 92NY’s new identity will focus on cities like Boston, Chicago, Houston, and L.A., as well as Berlin, London, Paris, and others.
A new online vertical “Roundtable,” will provide live discussions with experts and artists and on-demand content. The program will be made available to cultural and educational institutions around the world.
All renderings courtesy of Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners LLP; unless otherwise noted
