German-Academy-NY

(Concept Studies for the German Federal Foreign Office)

This 5th Avenue townhouse across from the Metropolitan Museum is owned by the Federal Republic of Germany and was home of a German culture and language Institute for 5 decades. The Institute found a new home (designed by KARO in 2014) and the vacated 1906 Beaux Art style building is going to be renovated to house a fellow residents program, the newly founded ‘German Academy New York’.

KARO assisted the owner with various studies from 2014 to 2017 to determine a future for this building. This included concepts for temporary use of the existing building, future expansion concepts and cost estimates.

The program of the Academy includes exhibition space, bookstore, cafe and event space for conference, lectures, concerts on the lower floors, administrative offices, work- and meeting spaces for the fellows, and a number of residences on the upper floors.

KARO was also hired to prepare the building and set the stage for a high profile fundraising event for the Academy in 2016. 

Size: 20,600 sqft

Date: 2014-17 

Location: Upper East Side, Manhattan

Photography: Karin Kohlberg;  Rendering:  KARO / oiio studio