American Folk Art Museum
New York, New York
Project Type: New Construction
Opening: 2001
Architect: Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects
AD Scope: Acoustics, Sound Isolation,
Noise Control
The American Folk Art Museum in New York City is famous for its ever-changing display of folk art such as American quilts, Shaker furniture, Navajo rugs, tinware, sculpture and other unique objects. Since its founding in 1961, the museum has become one of the most important centers for the exhibition and study of folk art in the world.
The Museum has now moved into its new home is an eight-level building on West 53rd Street just down the block from the Museum of Modern Art and across the street from the American Crafts Museum. The Museum is capped by a skylight above a grand interior staircase with openings at each floor allowing natural light to filter into the galleries and through to the lower levels. Art is integrated into public spaces, utilizing a series of niches throughout the building that offer informal interaction with a changing series of folk art objects.
AD was retained by Tod Williams Billie Tsien and Associates (TWBTA) to provide acoustical consulting for the project. We addressed room acoustics and sound isolation in the 100-seat auditorium/lecture room, classrooms and lower lobby and provided noise control for mechanical equipment and the air distribution system throughout the building. In all cases, sensitive integration with the unique architectural design was critical.
The American Folk Art Museum was awarded the prestigious Arup World Architecture Award, a top international prize, for “Best New Building in the World for 2001. The American Folk Art Museum also won the award for “Best North American Building” and “Best Cultural Building in the World.” The Awards are organized by World Architecture Magazine and were judged by a panel of leading architectural experts, drawn from all around the world.
