Beginning October 1st, New York City will launch the annual Building of the Day program presented by Archtober, offering architect-led walking tours of the city’s newest, most iconic, and most unique spaces. Presented by the Center for Architecture, the month-long celebration of architecture and design features nearly daily tours of sites across the five boroughs, though tickets sell out quickly.
Early October Tours Feature Museum Expansions and Community Hubs
The tour schedule opens on October 1st at the New Museum on the Bowery, showcasing OMA New York’s expansion that pairs with the existing SANAA-designed building. On October 2nd, Studio Gang’s 74,000-square-foot Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in East Flatbush opens its doors, featuring a double-height competition-grade swimming pool and naturally daylit learning spaces. David Chipperfield Architects’ St. Luke’s Townhouse in the West Village follows on October 3rd, highlighting a residential renovation that has housed The Future Perfect design gallery since 2019. On October 4th, MARVEL leads a tour of the 140,000-square-foot Orchard Beach Pavilion restoration in the Bronx, showcasing the reconstruction of 1930s New Deal-era architecture, including its elevated promenade and gracefully curving loggias.
Did You Know? The Orchard Beach Pavilion was originally constructed in the 1930s under the New Deal program before undergoing its current major restoration effort led by MARVEL.
Mid-Month Highlights Include Historic Preservation and Civic Infrastructure
Mid-month programming highlights complex urban transformations, beginning October 7th with FXCollaborative’s 30-story Midtown tower combining boutique office space and a double-height sanctuary for the historic Calvary Baptist Church. On October 8th, teams from SCAPE, the Gowanus Canal Conservancy, and the NYC Department of City Planning lead a tour focusing on the Gowanus Lowlands, a community-based vision centered on the Brooklyn canal. Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA) showcases the Tang Wing for American Democracy at The New York Historical on October 9th, marking the first addition to the York and Sawyer building since 1939. Additional October dates feature Storm King’s capital project by WXY architecture + urban design on October 10th, the Adjaye Associates-designed Studio Museum in Harlem on October 14th, and Young & Ayata’s redesign of the Nolen Study Room at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Thomas J. Watson Library on October 15th.
Late-October Events Spotlight Sustainable Design and Public Facilities
Later in the month, tours explore sustainable architecture and civic amenities, such as Architecture Research Office’s Green-House at Green-Wood on October 16th and 1100 Architect’s modular public restroom prototype at the Luis Lopez Playground in Staten Island on October 17th. The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Condé M. Nast Galleries are featured on October 21st, followed by Solid Objectives Idenburg Liu’s ISSEY MIYAKE / NEW YORK flagship on October 22nd and Mitchell Giurgola Architects’ transformation of the historic 1914 Carnegie branch Melrose Library in the Bronx on October 23rd.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who presents the Building of the Day program?
The annual program is presented by Archtober and the Center for Architecture.
How much do the walking tour tickets cost?
Tickets for the architect-led tours are priced at $15.
Are tickets readily available for all dates?
Tours sell out fast, requiring interested visitors to check the guide to secure a spot or join the waitlist.
Which of this year’s featured architectural sites are you most interested in exploring during October?
Worth a look