GILDER CENTER

While the Gilder Center aims to facilitate access for school groups and families, its ground floor’s predominant feature is seating with walnut-clad seats and concrete treads. This spesific design also have some minuses, such as posing challenges for individuals with mobility devices and the numerous parents and grandparents navigating with strollers. Furthermore, the stepped seating is uniform in size, resulting in children’s legs dangling uncomfortably.

One of the project’s most contentious spaces turned out to be its most visually enchanting—the park on the Columbus Street side, masterfully designed by REED HILDERBRAND. Despite initial complaints from the museum’s Upper West Side neighbors about the loss of green space, landscape architects meticulously preserved existing large trees while introducing a new understory of shrubs, native flora, and flowering trees. From a particular angle, the dotted frit on the glass should prevent birds from colliding with the building, ensuring their safety.

Museum officials have plans to illuminate the insectarium and vivarium at night, allowing park-goers to continue observing insect life both inside and outside the structure as it subtly recedes into the backdrop.