All photos by Gregg Richards, courtesy of Brooklyn Public Library
Some of Brooklyn’s most influential arts and cultural institutions have a new home in the heart of Fort Greene. L10 Arts and Cultural Center officially opened last week, bringing a 65,000-square-foot facility with gallery and performance spaces for the Museum of Contemporary African Diaspora Arts (MoCADA), cinemas for the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), rehearsal studios and performance space for 651 Arts, and a new Brooklyn Public Library branch to 10 Lafayette Street. The center sits within the mixed-use tower 300 Ashland Place, which opened in 2017.
Developed by Two Trees Management in partnership with the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Economic Development Corporation, L10 Arts and Cultural Center has been in the works for over a decade as part of the mixed-use development 300 Ashland. The facility was designed by Andrea Steele Architecture and built by Skanska USA.
The new Library for Arts and Culture is located on the second floor and will feature a collection of books, music, plays, magazines, and art books, as well as an archival collection of museum and gallery catalogs. Programs will include performances, readings, and conversations with artists and writers.
MoCADA’s Culture Lab II space includes an art gallery and a cafe that celebrates Africa and its global diaspora. The center will also host the first public home for the BAM Hamm Archives and the Leon Levy & Shelby White reading room, two 108-seat cinemas, a 25-seat screening room, and a flexible black box theater that can fit 60 people. For 651 Arts space includes rehearsal and gallery spaces, with plans to launch a studio rental program for artists.
All four tenants will share a roughly 10,000-square-foot lobby and lounge area designed for visitors, occupants, artists, and innovators.
“Today we celebrate the opening of Brooklyn’s first public library dedicated to arts and culture,” Linda E. Johnson, president and CEO of Brooklyn Public Library, said.
“From this stunning space in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn, we are proud to deepen our commitment to our borough’s vibrant creative community– artists, makers, and dreamers who have long turned to Brooklyn Public Library for knowledge and inspiration.”
For the project, Skanska used advanced 3D modeling and cutting-edge fabrication techniques to create an “unparalleled spatial experience” with the millwork. Building Information Modeling technology played a vital role in optimizing the mechanical, engineering, and plumbing systems, leading to a better, more efficient construction design.
Additionally, new Lidar SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) technology was used for detailed mapping at various stages of the project, improving coordination under complex conditions, according to a press release.
“The completion of this cultural hub represents a major milestone, providing state-of-the-art facilities and versatile spaces to support Brooklyn’s most influential arts and cultural organizations, and we are thrilled to celebrate the project’s fruition,” Sean Szatkowski, executive vice president, general manager at Skanska USA Building, said.
“This flagship project highlights the impact of sustained collaboration with key stakeholders and underscores the importance of diverse business partnerships in driving the successful development of NYC’s cultural institutions.”
The cultural center is situated at the base of the 32-story 300 Ashland Place tower, which has over 300 apartments. Plans for the project were first announced in 2013 when Two Trees Management purchased the site, which was previously a parking lot. The 460,000-square-foot building opened its doors in the fall of 2017.
A public plaza, an Apple store, and a Whole Foods 365 market opened soon after as part of its ground-floor retail offerings.
Construction of the cultural center began in December 2019, with an opening initially scheduled for winter 2020, but the project was delayed after the city and Two Trees couldn’t agree to terms for transferring the space to the city.
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