SubCat Studios Syracuse, 219 South West Street, Music Studio Building, Architect

219 West, Syracuse, New York State, USA : SubCat Studios

219 West Syracuse - design by Fiedler Marciano Architecture LLP

28 Jul 2011 219 West Syracuse - SubCat Studios 219 WEST Syracuse, New York 219 S. West Street sits adjacent to Red House Arts Center, a regional venue in downtown Syracuse. The urban site is isolated and bordered by high-speed thoroughfares and a freight rail overpass. photos : Chris Cooper Photographer SubCat Studios is the primary tenant of the three-story multi-use cultural facility, on a pivotal site between the Armory Square District arts community and the growing Near West Side and revitalizes this small but significant corner of the city. The architects added a glazed extension to the ground floor, which becomes the main entry and also brings daylight into the lobby. The stair tower, clad in perforated metal panels, references the area’s industrial past. Multi-colored glass storefronts along S. West Street allow passersby to view recording sessions in progress. Music instruction and rehearsal areas are on the second floor and visiting artists can stay in the upper level residential suites. photos : Chris Cooper Photographer 219 West - SubCat Studios : Building Information Project Title: 219 West Location: 219 South West Street, Syracuse, New York 13202, USA Description: A new multi-use music and arts facility in a three-story, 19th-century masonry structure. It is adjacent to Red House Arts Center, a successful regional theater and music venue. Together, 219 West and the Redhouse create a new cultural complex. FMA services: Programming; Architectural and interior design Total project size: 18,300 gsf Program areas: SubCat Studios (Basement: 4,400 gsf) SubCat Studios (1st floor: 3,400 gsf) Lobby/cafe (1st floor: 1,500 gsf) Music instruction and rehearsal spaces (2nd floor: 4,500 gsf) Residential suites (3rd floor: 4,500 gsf) Completion date: Jun 2011 Local context: Within the past decade, the City of Syracuse and a variety of local groups including Syracuse University have partnered to promote a supportive environment for the arts community in the city’s downtown. 219 West is located in a key position along The Connective Corridor, an urban pathway that links various cultural points of interest. Bold design and public programming establish 219 West as a cultural destination in downtown Syracuse. The facility creates a vital link between historic Armory Square and the SALT (Syracuse Art Life Technology) District, a neglected industrial area on the city’s Near Westside targeted for development as an artists’ quarter. Origin: Fiedler Marciano Architecture worked closely with the owner of 219 West, a benefactor of the Redhouse, to create a new home for SubCat Studios, formerly of nearby Skaneateles. They also helped to develop a unique, varied program that would draw tenants, complement the adjacent theater, and foster artistic synergy. Features: Significant features include: • Revitalization of a former industrial building, propelling local efforts to transform downtown Syracuse into a cultural destination • Reorientation of the building, both architecturally and symbolically, to amplify its urban presence • A multi-faceted program that supports the Redhouse and introduces new types of businesses into the area • A unique music recording studio in an urban environment, specially designed to isolate noise and vibration from passing freight trains and heavy vehicular traffic photos : Chris Cooper Photographer Project Design Sight and sound: The primary facade is opened up by large storefront windows that create a dialogue between the studio and the urban environment. Unlike most recording facilities, which are sealed acoustic boxes, passersby can peer into live recording sessions at SubCat Studios from the sidewalk. Closing the gap: The new glass-enclosed lobby addition projects from the historic building and counterbalances its solidity. The transparent structure brings light into the lobby and café, which serve as a public gathering place shared by the Red House Arts Center and the tenants of 219 West. Best face forward: The renovation opens up the building to downtown Syracuse and the SALT District and establishes a presence on both the front and back facades. Two design elements – the elevator tower clad in corrugated metal panels and the glass addition – combine with the historic architecture to create a straightforward and contemporary composition. Scene and be seen: The exterior design emphasizes transparency and openness, which contrasts with the strict acoustic and vibration requirements necessitated by the recording studio. Inside the building, the architects replaced the existing floor framing with floating concrete slabs to buffer sound and vibrations from passing trains. Community culture: The diverse program for the building draws in the community and encourages local residents to engage with the facility. The center contains an array of functions that can be enjoyed by Syracuse residents and university students. Home away from home: To create a 24/7 community, the building includes residential units that accommodate recording artists, performance artists, and theater, dance and musical troupes. These units serve as alternatives to long-term hotel suites, and allow artists to create a home-away-from-home. Materials Exterior: Tower – perforated corrugated metal panels Storefronts – glazed panels including back-painted glass, illuminated translucent glass, bronze reflective glass and clear glass, aluminum diamond plate surrounds Site – rock filled gabion cages at parking area Interior: Lobby/café – sheet vinyl flooring, plywood wall panels, expanded metal ceiling SubCat Studios – stained wood floors, black fabric-wrapped ceiling panels, wood wall panels (diffusion), red fabric-wrapped wall panels (absorption), back-lit acrylic panels Project Team Fiedler Marciano Architecture LLP – Programming; Architectural and interior design Ryan-Biggs Associates, P.C. – Structural engineering JFK&M Consulting Group – MEP engineering Environment Design and Research, P.C. – Civil engineering and landscape design Lally Acoustical Consulting – Acoustical engineering OneLux Studio – Lighting design V.I.P. Structures, Inc. – Construction management About FMA New York City-based Fiedler Marciano Architecture provides design and planning services on a wide spectrum of projects for cultural, institutional, educational, museum, commercial and residential clients. The firm’s clients include Syracuse University, The Salvation Army and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. FMA project team: Mark Fiedler, AIA – Partner Martin Marciano – Partner Josh Lacasse, LEED AP – Junior architect

New York State Buildings - Latest Designs

Houses of Sagaponac, Long Island
Brown Harris Stevens

picture from architects
Houses of Sagaponac

HSU House, Ithaca
EPIPHYTE Lab, Architects

picture : Susan & Jerry Kaye
HSU House

Westchester Community College Building, New York
Ennead Architects

photo © Jeff Goldberg/Esto for Ennead Architects
Westchester Community College Building

New York State Buildings - Selection

Holley House, Garrison
hanrahanMeyers architects

photo : Michael Moran
Holley House

Performing Arts Centre – EMPAC, Troy
Grimshaw

image : Grimshaw
New York State Building

ViILA NM
UN Studio Architects

photo © Christian Richters
ViILA NM

New York Architecture

Buildings / photos for the 219 West - SubCat Studios page welcome: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

219 West - SubCat Studios : page - adrian welch / isabelle lomholt

Website: www.subcat.net / www.theredhouse.org

[Back to Top]

Tweet