Harlem School of the Arts: Designing a Welcoming Façade
Project Background:
Harlem School of the Arts (HSA) was founded in 1964 and opened its 37,000-square-foot Hamilton Heights facility designed by Ulrich Franzen in 1979. The facility was renamed the Herb Alpert Center in 2013 after HSA received its first gift of $6 million from the Herb Alpert Foundation, founded by the famed trumpeter.
In 2019, HSA began a $9.5-million renovation project, dubbed The Renaissance Project, funded by the Herb Alpert Foundation. As the largest renovation in the building’s history, the project included both structural and acoustical upgrades that opened up the facility and strengthened its presence in the community.
Instead of brick walls enclosing the space, HSA now features a glass façade and entryway that offer visibility from the street. The main stairway and courtyard were redesigned to improve the function and atmosphere of the building. The space is also optimized for events, exhibitions, and performances.
Project Services:
SWA’s Enclosures consultants joined the project team to create a strategy for the glass façade that met the project goals: increased natural light, a welcoming atmosphere, a transparent street presence, and an improved performance space.
SWA provided condition assessments, curtain wall and building enclosures consulting, and construction administration services.
Awards:
- Silver Award Winner in 2021 Building Design+Construction Reconstruction Awards