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Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

Restored
  • Late Modern
  • Identity of Building/Site
  • History of Building/Site
  • Documentation

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

Schomburg Center

Credit

Bill Moore

Site overview

A division of the New York Public Library, The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem is one of the world’s leading cultural institutions devoted to the research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experiences. 

Originally established within the 135th Street Branch of the NY Public Library (1905), a Carnegie library designed by McKim, Mead & White, the Schomburg Center was greatly expanded with the construction of an adjacent new Modern building designed by J. Max Bond, Jr. of Bond Ryder Associates, completed in 1980. 

During a period when the project had been temporarily cancelled due to lack of funds, Ada Louise Huxtable wrote “Bond, Ryder came up with a very good scheme. First, they had changed the program they were given from a large demolition and rebuilding project to something far more sensitive and sensible by calculating the future maintenance and staffing cost for what would have been an overambitious museum and library combination. They cut down the museum space and suggested that the McKim, Mead and White building be saved and recycled for the art and artifacts displays.” Huxtable concluded, “It is a simple, rational design, rich in neighborhood amenity, at once economical and potentially elegant.”

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

Schomburg Center 

Credit

New York Public Library

Site overview

A division of the New York Public Library, The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem is one of the world’s leading cultural institutions devoted to the research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experiences. 

Originally established within the 135th Street Branch of the NY Public Library (1905), a Carnegie library designed by McKim, Mead & White, the Schomburg Center was greatly expanded with the construction of an adjacent new Modern building designed by J. Max Bond, Jr. of Bond Ryder Associates, completed in 1980. 

During a period when the project had been temporarily cancelled due to lack of funds, Ada Louise Huxtable wrote “Bond, Ryder came up with a very good scheme. First, they had changed the program they were given from a large demolition and rebuilding project to something far more sensitive and sensible by calculating the future maintenance and staffing cost for what would have been an overambitious museum and library combination. They cut down the museum space and suggested that the McKim, Mead and White building be saved and recycled for the art and artifacts displays.” Huxtable concluded, “It is a simple, rational design, rich in neighborhood amenity, at once economical and potentially elegant.”

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

Schomburg Center, original building and modern addition

Credit

Rugan Lewis

Site overview

A division of the New York Public Library, The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem is one of the world’s leading cultural institutions devoted to the research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experiences. 

Originally established within the 135th Street Branch of the NY Public Library (1905), a Carnegie library designed by McKim, Mead & White, the Schomburg Center was greatly expanded with the construction of an adjacent new Modern building designed by J. Max Bond, Jr. of Bond Ryder Associates, completed in 1980. 

During a period when the project had been temporarily cancelled due to lack of funds, Ada Louise Huxtable wrote “Bond, Ryder came up with a very good scheme. First, they had changed the program they were given from a large demolition and rebuilding project to something far more sensitive and sensible by calculating the future maintenance and staffing cost for what would have been an overambitious museum and library combination. They cut down the museum space and suggested that the McKim, Mead and White building be saved and recycled for the art and artifacts displays.” Huxtable concluded, “It is a simple, rational design, rich in neighborhood amenity, at once economical and potentially elegant.”

Primary classification

Education (EDC), Public Services (PBS)

Secondary classification

Recreation (REC)

Designations

In 2016, the center was designated a National Historic Landmark, along with the original McKim Mead and White building on West 135th Street which was designated a NYC landmark in 1981.

Author(s)

Leslie Monsky | Docomomo US/New York Tri-State | 7/27/2020

How to Visit

Open to the public

Location

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

515 Malcolm X Boulevard
New York, NY, 10037
More visitation information

Case Study House No. 21

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Schomburg Center

Credit:

Bill Moore

Schomburg Center 

Credit:

New York Public Library

Schomburg Center, original building and modern addition

Credit:

Rugan Lewis

Designer(s)

J. Max Bond, Jr.

Architect

J. Max Bond Jr., (1935-2009) was born in Louisville, Kentucky to a distinguished Black family. He was inspired to become an architect by a staircase that fascinated him at Tuskegee Institute and by architecture he saw in Tunisia as a boy, both places where his father taught. He received a a Masters in Architecture in 1958 from Harvard and despite facing racism throughout his career, he became one of the most prominent architects in the country.

Other designers

Westerman Construction Company, the Department of Design and Construction, and Marble Fairbanks Architects led the 2015 renovation. 

Related Sites

Commission

1972

Completion

1980

Significant Alteration(s) with Date(s)

In 2015, it was announced that Schomburg Center would be getting a $22 million renovation. Parts of the building’s exterior were to be replaced, many of the interior spaces were to be expanded and reconfigured, allowing for improved public access and assembly. Construction was completed in 2017.

Current Use

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem is one of the world's leading cultural institutions devoted to the research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experience. Its current use remains the same as when it opened with additional space for programming such as theatrical productions.

References

 

AIA NY Building of the Day

"Schomburg Center For Research In Black Culture At 515 Malcolm X Boulevard Getting Renovation, Harlem," newyorkyimby.com, December 21, 2015.

NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project

"Architecture View; Can New York Save the Schomburg Center?" New York Times, April 25, 1976

Schomburg Center Wikipedia page

 

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