Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Photo credit: Demian Neufeld
New York City’s annual architecture and design festival returns next month. Now in its 15th year, Archtober, organized by the Center for Architecture along with more than 80 partners, celebrates the cityscape with behind-the-scenes tours, special exhibitions, panels, and events throughout October. This year’s theme, “Shared Spaces,” invites participants to rethink how we “move, connect, and live together” in New York.
“In a moment where uncertainty, hyper-individualism, post-pandemic isolation, and climate crises loom ever larger, we’re urgently and collectively feeling a need for public space and human connection,” Jesse Lazar, Assoc. AIA, Executive Director, AIA New York, and the Center for Architecture, said.
“As we celebrate 15 years of Archtober, this year’s theme ‘Shared Spaces’ feels particularly pressing in imagining a healthier and more humane urban landscape.”
Classic Harbor Line’s AIANY Around Manhattan Architecture Boat Tour returns this year, offering a nearly three-hour tour around the borough with an expert guide exploring the iconic skyline. Other tours to check out include the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Brooklyn Bridge at sunset, typically off-limits buildings on Ellis Island, and South Street Seaport’s architectural gems.
Several thought-provoking talks and discussions are on deck. Learn about the architectural significance of porches in Newburgh, NY, how architects restored the Waldorf Astoria, the history of Bauhaus designers under Nazi rule, and the production design behind “The Brutalist.”
The festival’s Building of the Day series, which includes tours led by architects, also returns this year. Some new additions this year include tours of 25 Water Street, the largest office-to-residential conversion in the country, the new welcome center at Green-Wood Cemetery, the redesigned Wagner Park Pavilion, and the reimagined Michael C. Rockefeller Wing at The Met.
And the festival’s beloved Pumpkitecture carving competition is back on October 29, with teams of architects going “gourd-to-gourd” to compete for the Pritzerpumpkin.
Archtober runs from October 1 through October 31. Find the full lineup of Archtober 2025 events, programming, tours, talks, activities, and more, here.
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