[Updated] Swiss Institute revamp now in sidewalk bridge phase

[Photo Tuesday by Steven]

As previously reported, the Swiss Institute, a non-profit cultural center, is moving to the Icon Realty-owned 130 Second Ave. at St. Mark's Place.

Workers have been gutting the former Chase branch since August... on Tuesday, the sidewalk bridge went up ...




[Bottom 2 bridge pics from yesterday]

Hopefully this will help preserve the wheatpaste ads that seem to change every few hours on the plywood.

Inside, here's more about what to expect via the Institute's website:

In Spring 2018, Swiss Institute looks forward to relocating to a new long-term home in New York City’s East Village, moving into a building at the corner of St. Marks Place and Second Avenue. Swiss Institute has hired Selldorf Architects to oversee the transformation of the new building. The 7,500 square foot space features four levels – basement, ground floor, second floor and roof.

The design for the building will create spaces for exhibitions, projects and public programs, a library, a bookstore, and a rooftop garden. SI’s new home is located within half a mile of several prominent cultural and educational institutions including Anthology Film Archives, Cooper Union, Danspace Project, ICP, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, New Museum, New York University, The Poetry Project, and The Public Theater.

Updated 10:30 a.m.

The scaffolding and construction netting is going up now...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Swiss Institute moving into the former Chase branch on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Checking in on the Swiss Institute, coming next spring to 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Nearly a year has passed since the news arrived that the Swiss Institute, a non-profit cultural center, was moving to the Icon Realty-owned 130 Second Ave. at St. Mark's Place.

There hasn't been much activity at the former Chase branch (except for the daily switch in wheatpaste ads on the plywood) ... until this past week, when some interior gutting commenced... (coinciding with the work-permit approval earlier this month) ...


[Photo last week by Lola Sáenz]

The original announcement said they open in the spring of 2017. That opening date is now the spring of 2018.

Here's more about what to expect via the Institute's website:

In Spring 2018, Swiss Institute looks forward to relocating to a new long-term home in New York City’s East Village, moving into a building at the corner of St. Marks Place and Second Avenue. Swiss Institute has hired Selldorf Architects to oversee the transformation of the new building. The 7,500 square foot space features four levels – basement, ground floor, second floor and roof.

The design for the building will create spaces for exhibitions, projects and public programs, a library, a bookstore, and a rooftop garden. SI’s new home is located within half a mile of several prominent cultural and educational institutions including Anthology Film Archives, Cooper Union, Danspace Project, ICP, La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, New Museum, New York University, The Poetry Project, and The Public Theater.

THE MOVE TO ST. MARKS WILL ENABLE SI TO:
– Stengthen & expand its core mission of promoting forward thinking and experimental art- now in an architecturally significant and expanded space.
– Act as a cultural catalyst to partner and engage with a dense network of cultural and educational institutions in a demographically diverse community.
– Significantly grow attendance to exhibitions and public programs though increased prominence and visibility.

There's a benefit for the new space, officially going as 38 St. Mark's Place, in November. (Benefactor tickets are $1,200 each.) Details here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Swiss Institute moving into the former Chase branch on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

Future Swiss Institute gets the plywood treatment on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

On Friday, workers started putting up the plywood around the former Chase branch on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place...



As previously reported, the Swiss Institute, a non-profit cultural center currently located on Wooster Street, has signed a lease for the whole building...



There aren't any permits on file with the DOB as of this morning about the renovation of this space. According to the previously distributed news advisory on the relocation:

Swiss Institute has hired Selldorf Architects to oversee the transformation of its new building. The 7,500 square foot space features four levels – basement, ground, second floor, and roof. The design for the building will create spaces for exhibitions, projects and public programs, a library, a bookstore, and a usable rooftop.

ARTnews floated a rumor that there will be a biergarten on the building's roof. A little early for more confirmation on that.

The Chase merged with the location two blocks to the north last November.

Steven took the above photos on Saturday... by yesterday, the ads had arrived...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Swiss Institute moving into the former Chase branch on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place

It will now be more challenging to tag the front of the former Chase branch on 2nd Avenue

Workers this afternoon are installing roll-down gates outside 130 Second Ave. at St. Mark's Place...



People had been tagging the front of the former Chase on a regular basis... this one arrived overnight on Oct. 11...





The space will eventually be converted into the Swiss Institute, a non-profit cultural center currently located on Wooster Street. The Chase branch here consolidated with the one two blocks away last November.

Updated 10/20


[Photo by Steven]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Chase space on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place is for rent

2 East Village Chase Bank branches are closing for good on Nov. 12

Chase branch on 2nd Avenue at St. Mark's Place has the potential to get 4x larger with new owner

The East Village is down 2 Chase branches

Icon wraps former Chase branch at St. Mark's Place with retail ribbon

'Good riddance' Chase, and — a development to watch in 2016

A few more details on the Swiss Institute's move to the East Village