Format Architecture Office renovates 1950s building in NYC

Format Architecture Office closes a renovation Project for Leicathe renowned camera and sports optics manufacturer, in new YorkThe project transforms a former meat market from the 1950s into City Meatpacking District into the Leica Store & Gallery. The original two-story building, modest in size and street frontage, is being expanded to 372 square meters. A new steel and glass building Shop windowtogether with a brick The screen volume above connects the building with its industrial past while offering modern retail Visibility. Key design elements include maintaining the original Half-timbering ceiling, the creation of a double-height mezzanine at the front and the installation of new skylights to improve natural light. The addition of a Steel A folding glass door at the rear opens to a 90 square meter outdoor terrace.

All images by Nick Glimenakis, courtesy of Format Architecture Office

Leica Store & Gallery with brick facade

The brick screen above the facade of the Leica Store & Gallery stands out as a modern interpretation of the neighborhood’s decorative brickwork. It creates dynamic lighting effects inside during the day and projects light and activity onto the street at night. An integrated lighting system with adjustable lighting enhances the building’s street presence. The project required planning and collaboration with engineering and construction teams to balance structural integrity with the desired delicate appearance. “Maintaining structural integrity while still appearing as delicate as possible required careful planning and collaboration with engineering and construction teams.” says Andrew McGee, Director and Co-Founder of Format. “The balance between simple and complex can quickly drift into the banal or complicated, and the entire composition falls apart. Keeping that control at the right level was our task for the project.”

The project preserves the history and future of the Meatpacking District, honoring the building’s industrial heritage while incorporating modern design features. “A major challenge in any heritage project is to recognize and respect the history of the building and the neighborhood while finding a place for something new or innovative,” says Matthew Hettler, principal and co-founder of the New York-based practice. “To overcome this, we worked early on with community board members and Landmarks Preservation Commission staff to ensure that the story we wanted to tell about the building and its new chapter did not conflict with its past.”

the original meat market building from the 1950s in New York’s Meatpacking District

a façade made of steel and glass connects the building with its industrial past

The brick screen above the facade of the Leica Store & Gallery is a tribute to the decorative brickwork of the district

One of the most important design elements is the retention of the original half-timbered ceiling