Scandinavia House – The Nordic Center in America

Scandinavia House – The Nordic Center in America
Location of Scandinavia House in Manhattan
Established	2000
Location	58 Park Avenue, Manhattan, New York 10016 United States
Coordinates	40°44′58″N 73°58′48″W / 40.749451°N 73.980013°W / 40.749451; -73.980013
Director	Victoria McGann
Website	Scandinavia House: The Nordic Center in America

Building Designed by Polshek Partnership Architects (now Ennead Architects)

Scandinavia House – The Nordic Center in America is The American-Scandinavian Foundation's (ASF) cultural center in Murray Hill, Manhattan, dedicated to preserving the history of the Scandinavian and Nordic countries' cultural impact in the United States^[1] through a wide variety of exhibits and programming. This cultural center hosts series of exhibitions of fine art, design as well as performing arts pieces from Nordic countries. Great importance of the center is devoted to community work introducing local population and guests with Scandinavian languages and customs by organizing courses.^[2]

The Nordic Center was designed by architect James Stewart Polshek and opened to the public in 2000^[3] with a visit from King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden and their eldest daughter Princess Victoria; Princess Martha Louise of Norway; and Princess Benedikte of Denmark.^[1]

History

Scandinavia House in 58 Park Avenue, Manhattan was opened in 2000 by American-Scandinavian Foundation. Building was the first permanent location of ASF after a decade of moving between several addresses. Construction of the new building costed around 13 million $.^[4]

According to the ASF website more than 1.5 million people have visited it since then.^[2]

The previous Scandinavia House in this location was a fine example of 1909 French neo-classicism building finished with lime stone. It was owned by Grace Rainey Rogers until her death in 1943.^[4] She was an avid philanthropist and an art collector. An auditorium in Metropolitan Museum of Art was named after her. Her handsome house was built by real estate developer Horace Trumbauer from Philadelphia. His chef designer was the first African American architect, Julian Francis Abele. There are three buildings in New York City designed by this architect. The other two are the James B. Duke House at Fifth Avenue and Adelaide L. T. Douglas home at 57 Park Avenue. Both are landmark and thus protected by law. However, 58 Park Ave building was not. During last decades of 20th century old town house served as the United Nations mission of German Democratic Republic. ASF bought it together with the plot of land for 5 million dollars in 1996. In order to construct the new and modern Scandinavia House by Polshek Partnership Architects the site was cleared from previous building. Unfortunately there is no left any legacy of this important work of black American designer today on the site.

According to NY Times article of February 14, 1999, in public discourse by the president of the ASF Edward P. Gallagher it was supposed to be a "[..] fully public building".^[4] However, current website of the Scandinavian house puts great emphasis on possibility to rent the space for private gatherings, weddings, presentations, corporate events and meetings.^[5] Nevertheless, there is no link to the rental page directly from home page, but it is possible to find it here.

Building

This building is designed in late modernism (international style) characteristic to late 1990s till early 2000s. It was designed by the internationally renowned Polshek Partnership Architects (now Ennead Architects). It has 6 floors above the ground and 2 floors below. It is 50 feet wide.

The building is detailed in calm, yet exquisite manner in minimalist Scandinavian design. Facade is finished with gray and light blue zinc and glass creating elegant, yet calm and Nordic image. Initially it was supposed to be partly covered with wood as typical building material from Scandinavia, although this idea has been abandoned.

The aim of this building is to exhibit Scandinavian building materials, technological advancement and open, easy to transform and large space. Scandinavia House include the 168-seat Victor Borge Hall for performances and lectures, the Heimbold Family Children’s Learning Center, which offers regular programs and activities for children and families, and the Halldór Laxness Library.

Lower level

Victor Borge Hall combines the best in Scandinavian design with state-of-the-art technology. It can host up to 168 seated guests. This place often hosts symposiums, lectures, presentations, concerts, and performances. The hall is equipped with 35 mm film projectors with Dolby Surround Sound, digital projection capability and digital recording equipment for concerts and presentations.

Main floor

The F.Donald Kenney Reception Area and Taplin Café is a 2,200 square foot space located on the main level of Scandinavia House, overlooking Park Avenue houses Smörgås Chef at Scandinavia House. It runs almost entire length of the main floor. It is openly planned and transparent space. Street-scape is seen from inside and from street people can see in the building. It is inviting space commonly seen in designs of late modernism. A small gift shop is housed near its entrance, where diverse Scandinavian design products are sold along with souvenirs and sweets.

Second floor

Volvo Hall is a bright, dramatic space with glass walls to its east and west overlooking Park Avenue.It has an adjoining garden terrace with quartzite stone and wood details, offers a setting for outdoor receptions and meeting breaks. Volvo Hall can accommodate up to 250 guests for receptions and 120 for seated dining. The hall is used for as showroom space, place for fashions shows, presentation place, and official gatherings. It houses social events and educational programs carried out by ASF. On this floor there is also an outdoor Wallenius terrace for serving guests of the Scandinavian House during summer.

Third floor

The Stolt-Nielsen, Gundersen, Ginsberg, and Leif Hoegh Galleries offers well equipped space for exhibitions of the best Scandinavian painting, sculpture, photography, and design. It has an expansive 1,800 square foot space with high ceilings and a polished spruce floor, is a stylish setting for receptions of up to 150. These galleries also have open floor plan along the whole building that is possible to subdivide in three spaces.

Fourth floor

The Halldór Laxness Library, a well designed space for meetings of up to 20 people, is furnished in classic Scandinavian design. Huge windows overlook Park Avenue, offering an excellent vista of New York landmarks. Computers with internet access are available and a small reading area is adjacent to the main part of the room.

Heimbold Family Children's Playing and Learning Center is colorful and welcoming space designed to engage children and their families in activities that explore the rich cultural heritage of the Nordic countries,

Fifth floor

The Statoil and Teekay Conference Rooms serve day and evening meetings. These places are designed with removable separation wall and can be merged in order to provide larger space of 16 by 27 feet

Sixth floor

The Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation Seminar Room is smallest (13 by 16 feet) of the set of conference facilities in the Scandinavia House.

Restaurant

Scandinavia house has a list of preferred caterers including Smorgas Chef, which mamages full service restaurant on the main floor. This restaurant operates two more facilities in Wall street and West Village. These restaurants are among few of their sort that produces their own food. It is provided by historic (since 1740s) Blenheim Hill Farm in Catskills.^[6]

Financing

Scandinavia House has long list of generous sponsors that counts up to 300 donors from the U.S. and abroad. Among then are individuals, corporations, and foundations, as well as the Nordic governments and the Nordic Council of Ministers^[2]

The American Scandinavian Foundation

Scandinavian house is under the management of the American Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) which was founded by Niels Poulson - Danish-American who owned a successful iron manufacturing company Pulsen&Eger (later changed to Heckla - after an active Volcano in Iceland). In 1910 he founded ASF (initially known as American Scandinavian Society) which was publicly funded non-profit organization. The aim of the organization was to support cultural activities by carrying out wide array of fellowships , grants, internships, publishing etc.^[7] ASF was one of the first early non-governmental organizations that promoted cultural relations between countries via grants, fellowships and other individual sponsorships that encouraged individuals to contribute and enhance the relationships between the US and Nordic countries.

The Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees of individuals from the United States and Scandinavia, representing diverse interests yet linked by personal or professional ties to the Scandinavian countries. The five Nordic Heads of State serve as the organization's patrons - Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Harald V of Norway, Margrethe II of Denmark, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Sauli Ninistö.

References

1 2 Wong, Edward (October 18, 2000). "From Ingmar to Ikea, New Center Gives City a Nordic Touch". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-25.
1 2 3 "About - Scandinavia House". Scandinavia House. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
↑ Smith, Roberta (November 3, 2000). "Design Review; A Smorgasbord of Nifty Ideas". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-03-25.
1 2 3 "POSTINGS: From French Neo-Classicism to Zinc, Spruce and Glass on Park Ave.; A New Scandinavia House". The New York Times. 1999-02-14. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
↑ "Event Planning Services at ASF". Scandinavia House. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
↑ "HOME". Smörgås chef. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
↑ Grutchfield, Walter (2011). "Hecla Iron Works". Walter Grutchfield blog.

External links

Museums in Manhattan

Current	American Academy of Arts and Letters American Folk Art Museum American Museum of Natural History Rose Center for Earth and Space Asia Society Asian American Arts Centre Castle Clinton Center for Jewish History Children's Museum of Manhattan China Institute The Cloisters Drawing Center Dyckman House El Museo del Barrio Eldridge Street Synagogue Ellis Island Federal Hall Fraunces Tavern Frick Collection FusionArts Museum George Gustav Heye Center Girl Scout Museum and Archives Gracie Mansion Grolier Club Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Hamilton Grange National Memorial Hispanic Society of America International Center of Photography International Print Center New York Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame Japan Society Jewish Museum John J. Harvey John M. Mossman Lock Museum Lower East Side Tenement Museum Madame Tussauds Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center Merchant's House Museum Met Breuer Metropolitan Museum of Art Morgan Library & Museum Morris–Jumel Mansion Mount Vernon Hotel Museum The Museum at FIT Museum of American Finance Museum of Arts and Design Museum of Biblical Art Museum of Chinese in America Museum of Jewish Heritage Museum of Mathematics Museum of Modern Art Museum of Motherhood Museum of Primitive Art Museum of Sex Museum of the City of New York National Academy Museum and School National Jazz Museum in Harlem National Track and Field Hall of Fame Neue Galerie New York New Museum New York City Fire Museum New York City Police Museum New York Public Library New York Public Library for the Performing Arts New York Transit Museum New-York Historical Society Paley Center for Media Nicholas Roerich Museum Rose Museum Rubin Museum of Art Scandinavia House Skyscraper Museum South Street Seaport Museum Statue of Liberty Studio Museum in Harlem The Theatre Museum Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace Tibet House Ukrainian Museum United Nations Art Collection Whitney Museum of American Art Yeshiva University Museum

Defunct	Chelsea Art Museum Dahesh Museum of Art Forbes Galleries Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art

See also: Museum Mile

Coordinates: 40°44′57.75″N 73°58′48″W / 40.7493750°N 73.98000°W / 40.7493750; -73.98000

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Wednesday, March 09, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.