Guided tours of significant buildings in New York City and the Tri-State area are organized by AIA New York Program Committees.
Led by architects, these intimate tours offer greater detail about a given site or building including its initial design and construction. Building tours are an opportunity to see inside some of the city’s most notable new projects and important historical sites that have made a sustained impact on the built environment.
Recent sites have included a tour of the Park Avenue Armory led by its restoration team; Congregation Beit Simchat Torah led by Stephen Cassell of Architecture Research Office; a private tour of NYC’s City Hall led by Richard Southwick of Beyer Blinder Belle; the Cary Leeds Tennis Center led by Peter Gluck of Gluck+; and the East Hampton Library and Guild Hall of East Hampton led by Robert A.M. Stern Architects and LHSA+DP.
Questions or feedback? Contact tours@aiany.org.
Upcoming Building Tours
Building Tour: Magazzino Italian Art Museum
Student with Valid ID: $100
General Public: $100
Magazzino Italian Art, the nonprofit museum and research center, is dedicated to advancing scholarship and public appreciation of postwar and contemporary Italian art in the United States. Nancy Olnick and Giorgio Spanu were inspired to share their lifelong love and passion for Italian art with their community. The first pavilion, a 20,000-square-foot structure designed by Spanish architect Miguel Quismondo, opened its doors in 2017, creating a new cultural hub and community resource within the Hudson. Magazzino’s second building opened in September 2023 as a unique opportunity to reunite Miguel Quismondo with his mentor and world-renowned architect Alberto Campo Baeza. The design of the Robert Olnick Pavilion, in the same spirit as the existing building, returns to materials that echo the logical and humble philosophies of Arte Povera.
Schedule:
11:00 am: Tour attendees arrive at Magazzino Italian Art
11:30 am–1:00 pm: Magazzino Italian Art museum tour with architect Miguel Quismondo
1:00 pm: Lunch prepared by Chef Luca Galli served at the Robert Olnick Pavilion
Transportation:
The Metro-North train departs from Grand Central Terminal at 9:50 a.m. and arrives in Cold Spring at 11:14 a.m. A Magazzino Italian Art Van will pick guests up from the station and return them at the end of the event. Attendees may also drive on their own to Magazzino Italian Art where on site parking is available.
Building Tour: Olnick Spanu House and Magazzino Italian Art
Student with Valid ID: $125
General Public: $125
The Olnick Spanu House in Garrison, NY was designed by the Spanish architect Alberto Campo Baeza in 2007 for the co-founders of Magazzino Italian Art, Nancy Olnick and Giorgio Spanu.
Magazzino Italian Art, the nonprofit museum and research center, is dedicated to advancing scholarship and public appreciation of postwar and contemporary Italian art in the United States. Nancy Olnick and Giorgio Spanu were inspired to share their lifelong love and passion for Italian art with their community. The first pavilion, a 20,000 square-foot structure, designed by Spanish architect Miguel Quismondo, opened its doors in 2017, creating a new cultural hub and community resource within the Hudson. Magazzino’s second building opened in September 2023 as a unique opportunity to reunite Miguel Quismondo with his mentor and world-renowned architect Alberto Campo Baeza. The design of the Robert Olnick Pavilion, in the same spirit as the existing building, returns to materials that echo the logical and humble philosophies of Arte Povera.
Schedule:
9:30 am: Van will pick attendees up from Magazzino Italian Art
9:30–11:00am: Transportation to and tour of the Olnick Spanu House in Garrison, NY
11:00 am: Van will drop off tour attendees back at Magazzino Italian Art
11:30 am–1:00 pm: Magazzino Italian Art museum tour with architect Miguel Quismondo
1:00 pm: Lunch prepared by Chef Luca Galli served at the Robert Olnick Pavilion
Transportation:
Attendees can take the Hudson Line on Metro-North to Cold Spring. Metro-North departs from Grand Central Terminal at 7:50 am and arrives at 9:14 am. A Magazzino Italian Art Van will pick guests up from the station, drive them between locations, and return them at the end of the event. Attendees may also drive on their own to Magazzino Italian Art where on site parking is available.
Building Tour: Grand Central Madison
Student with Valid ID: Free
General Public: $10
Join the AIANY Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for a tour of the newly constructed Grand Central Madison! Architect Peter Campanella of AECOM and arts specialist Yaling Chen of MTA Art & Design will walk us through the many levels of the Grand Central Madsion LIRR Rail terminal. The tour will highlight the distinctive architecture and works of art that are integral to this underground transport museum. After the tour, join us for an optional debrief at the Grand Central Oyster Bar. Attendees can purchase a soup or snack as we enjoy the historic Guastavino space and discuss the tour.
Tour Guides:
Peter Campanella, AIA, NCARB, Associate Vice President and Lead Architect, AECOM
Yaling Chen, Deputy Director, MTA Arts & Design
Eve Michel, AIA, Lecturer, Construction Administration; Former Program Executive and Chief Architect, MTA Construction & Development; Principal, eMrecon Consulting
Building of the Day: The Gilder Center
As part of NYCxDESIGN, the Center for Architecture will host a preview of Archtober programming the week of May 20. Join us on Monday, May 20 for a tour of The Gilder Center.
The Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation is the latest addition to New York’s historic American Museum of Natural History. At a time of urgent need for better public understanding of science and greater access to science education, the Gilder Center is designed to amplify the intellectual impact of the Museum with experiential architecture that encourages exploration—drawing in people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to share the excitement of scientific discovery and learning about the natural world.
Architect: Studio Gang
Meeting location will be emailed to registered attendees the day before the tour.
More in the Archtober preview series:
May 21, 1–3pm: Building of the Day: Cathedral of St. John the Divine
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This program is organized in conjunction with Archtober, New York City’s month-long architecture, and design festival.
All Archtober sales are final. No refunds available.
Building of the Day: Cathedral of St. John the Divine Crossing Dome Roof
As part of NYCxDESIGN, the Center for Architecture will host a preview of Archtober programming the week of May 20. Join us Tuesday, May 21 for a tour of Cathedral of St. John the Divine Crossing Dome Roof.
Ennead and their consultants designed a new copper roof to protect the 120 year old Guastavino tile dome over the Cathedral's crossing and restored the interior of the dome. Our tour would include looking at the dome from street level, inside the Cathedral, and up close from an adjacent roof (that requires a 17-story climb).
Please note: this tour is not accessible by wheelchair and will include climbing many stairs.
Architect: Ennead Architects
Meeting location will be emailed to registered attendees the day before the tour.
More in the Archtober preview series:
May 20, 12–1pm: Building of the Day: The Gilder Center
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This program is organized in conjunction with Archtober, New York City’s month-long architecture, and design festival.
All Archtober sales are final. No refunds available.