Architecture Research Office and Dia Art Foundation Transform a Trio of Industrial Buildings in Cheslea into Galleries

Since its 1974 inception, Dia Art Foundation has made it a fundamental practice to convert old warehouses and factories into galleries in multiple locations. Think of the erstwhile Nabisco factory, now Dia Beacon in upstate New York. The latest makeover is a trio of industrial buildings in Chelsea. The rationale couldn’t be clearer: Nothing must compete with the art and the viewing experience. ARO combined the three buildings (32,500 square feet in total), programmed interior spaces, and provided new HVAC systems throughout. The ground floor of the six-story easternmost edifice now houses a combination reception and bookstore area furnished with low-slung custom millwork, plus a flexible “talk space” that seats 150. Offices, an expanded library, and educational facilities are above.

Meanwhile, the adjacent single-story structures constitute 20,000 square feet of galleries, all interconnected through newly cut openings in adjoining walls. Also new: the common-bond brick that unites the three facades; unique oversize street doors endowing each building with a subtle identity; and a pervasive, gray-painted steel framing system for apertures. All told, exterior interventions create a strong public presence while providing views of the interior. There, exposed columns, ceilings, and bowstring trusses celebrate scale while new skylights, duplicating originals, provide the coveted element of daylight. Architecture and art are two powerful incentives to visit. The third? Free admission, opening doors to all.

Architecture Research Office: kim yao; adam yarinsky; jeff hong; daniel kuehn; benjamin moore; jenny hong; christine nasir; lian ren.