A vision for PS122 — 'a really lively building'

[Photo from Friday]

The New York Times today takes a look at five major contemporary dance hubs below 23rd Street, including PS122 on First Avenue at Ninth Street.

PS122, which opened in the former school in 1980, has been presenting performances from other venues since gut renovations — including the addition of an elevator, new stairwells and full ADA compliance — started in February 2013 at the 122 Community Center.

According to the Times, PS122 "is poised to reopen soon."

Here's more from today's article on Jenny Schlenzka, the first female director of PS122, who previously served as a curator of performance at MoMA and MoMA PS1.

The dance and visual art worlds have become increasingly entwined over the past decade. So Ms. Schlenzka’s appointment as executive artistic director of PS122, a haven for dance experimentation since 1980, was not a shock. Her first season, tentatively scheduled to begin early next year, will focus on the history of the East Village and of PS122. She said that until she has keys to the renovated building, a former public school on First Avenue, she couldn’t elaborate further.

Her larger vision, she said, is for “a really lively building” where people come and go all day for performances, talks, rehearsals and exhibitions.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Here's the sidewalk bridge-free corner of 9th Street and 1st Avenue — and the 122 Community Center

Come along on a tour of the under-renovation 122 Community Center on 1st Avenue


[The final rendering via Deborah Berke Partners]

Workers removing the scaffolding and sidewalk bridge from PS122

[Photo by Kate Puls]

The northeast corner of First Avenue and Ninth Street has been under a sidewalk bridge since the extensive, multi-year gut renovation started a few years back at the 122 Community Center ... however, in a noticeable sign of progress, workers have started to remove the scaffolding (and, perhaps soon, the sidewalk bridge) this afternoon, says EVG reader Kate Puls...

PS122, one of the organizations here, is expected to have its grand reopening next summer.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Come along on a tour of the under-renovation 122 Community Center on 1st Avenue

Important questions arise after someone tosses blue paint on First Avenue plywood

A few readers were curious about the blue paint tossed against the plywood next to PS122 on First Avenue...

Art project? Random vandalism? Misguided anger about PS122 closing for renovations? Blue Man Group guerrilla marketing? "The Smurf Movie" guerrilla marketing?

PS 122 holding final performance Saturday; theater is moving for renovations

It has been more than a year since we checked in on this story. PS 122 on First Avenue at Ninth Street is getting a facelift...



The Architect's Newspaper had the details in April 2010 on what all this will look like. According to the story:

The Department of Design and Construction (DDC) has commissioned Deborah Berke & Partners to complete a $16 million renovation of the aging structure and bring it up to current code requirements.

While the crux of the commission involves upgrading the 1894 building’s outmoded ingress/egress routes and substandard mechanical systems, Berke also saw the opportunity to improve the interior and how it was organized. The center’s primary inhabitants — PS 122 Gallery, Performance Space 122, and Mabou Mines — all grew into their rooms organically over the years, without much thought about how they functioned as a whole.

The construction is expected to be done by the summer of 2013.

And now that I've buried the lead... PS 122 is holding its final performance at this space Sunday Saturday before the renovations begin, according to TheaterMania. The theater will temporarily vacate its home to an off-site location during the renovations. For more information on the weekend performances, visit the PS 122 site here.

[Images via]

PS 122 without the construction netting

With all the hoopla last week about the new-look PS 122 and its steel tower planned for the First Avenue arts mainstay ... I forgot to mention that the construction netting has come off...



...showing off the refurbished building...

Meet PS 122's new steel tower

As you know, PS 122 on First Avenue at Ninth Street is getting a facelift...



The Architect's Newspaper has the details on what all this might look like. According to the story:

The Department of Design and Construction (DDC) has commissioned Deborah Berke & Partners to complete a $16 million renovation of the aging structure and bring it up to current code requirements.

While the crux of the commission involves upgrading the 1894 building’s outmoded ingress/egress routes and substandard mechanical systems, Berke also saw the opportunity to improve the interior and how it was organized. The center’s primary inhabitants — PS 122 Gallery, Performance Space 122, and Mabou Mines — all grew into their rooms organically over the years, without much thought about how they functioned as a whole.

And!

The architects quickly determined that the most economic and elegant solution was to place the new elevator, fire stair, and mechanical ducting within a tower addition situated in a yard to the north of the building. “Typical of a 100-year-old building, it has a fragile structural system of terracotta arches between steel structural elements,” said Jones. “You can’t just pop holes in that.”

Consigning these upgrades to the add-on pavilion also preserved the historical character of the original building, which was valued by tenants and the DDC. To minimize its impact, the addition will be constructed of light and luminous materials. The tower itself, a steel structure, will be clad in glass with a perforated and corrugated stainless steel scrim. A canopy and marquee that jut into the street, announcing the new entrance, will also be of glass and perforated steel.

The construction is expected to be done by the summer of 2013. So three more year's of the sidewalk shed on the corner. At first glimpse of the renderings, this looks like an awkward marriage of the old and new...


[Images via]

When Iggy retires?

There's a new exhibit at the PS 122 gallery titled "Yarn Theory," described as "an exhibition which highlights the vibrant and deep interrelationship between the sciences, mathematics, crocheting and knitting."



I stopped to check it out. This couple next to me were looking at the photos of the contributors to something called "The Knitted Mile." And the guy says, "Hey, Iggy!" They left, and I took a closer look... It's not Iggy Pop, but there is some resemblance... though this fellow is wearing a shirt, of course...