The 14th Street Y is a Jewish, multi-generational community center on 14th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenue in New York City. As part of Educational Alliance’s network of community centers in Lower Manhattan, it focuses on programming across four programmatic pillars – arts and culture, education, health and wellness, and civic engagement. Their vision for the new Y is to serve simultaneously as a “town square” for the East Village community as well as provide a cutting-edge cultural destination for all New Yorkers.

Since 2005, PBDW has been working with the 14th Street Y to re-calibrate their current facilities for future growth. Various adaptive reuse schemes were tested and a comprehensive space planning goal was articulated in 2017 to provide a building that is architecturally inspiring, welcoming, spacious, modern, sustainable, and reflective of its community. Major programmatic elements include a street floor lobby with café/market and gathering areas, theater lobby, theater and arts education center, preschool and parenting center, fitness and wellness center, community event space, rooftop recreation and gathering spaces.

PBDW organized the various program elements around a 7-story atrium located in the middle of the existing through-lot site between 14th and 13th street. Acting as a symbolic “town square”, the atrium is buffered by the long span athletic, community and theatrical volumes stacked vertically along the south and across from the early childhood, teen, adult and administrative wing to the north. Natural light from above floods into the atrium, activating the “heart” of the complex to provide a warm place to gather and socialize.

Architect: PBDW Architects (Ray H. Dovell, Leonard Leung, Lawrence Chen)

Zoning Consultant: Kramer Levin

Geotechnical Engineer: Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc.

Code Consultant: Design 2147, Ltd.

Structural Engineer: Gilsanz Murray Steficek, LLP

MEP Engineer: Cosentini Associates, Inc.