American Numismatic Society to relocate to new headquarters
in Manhattan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.......................................................November
29, 2007
American Numismatic Society to
relocate to new headquarters in Manhattan
The American Numismatic Society announced
today that it sold its headquarters at 140 William Street
in lower Manhattan. The Society will be relocating in the
second half of 2008 to a leased 20,000 square foot space on
the eleventh floor of One Hudson Square, a newly renovated
19 story building in a popular neighborhood near SoHo and
Tribeca.
One Hudson Square is situated on the corners
of Varick, Grand and Canal Streets, one of Manhattans
most vibrant and easily accessible neighborhoods. Other tenants
in the immediate area include the Jackie Robinson Museum,
The Art Institute of New York, and The Guggenheim Foundation
as well as others from the education, publishing, advertising
and financial sectors.
The new headquarters will house a gallery
for exhibitions, state-of-the-art lecture and conference rooms,
and a library filled with ambient light housing about 10,000
linear feet of open shelving. Samuel White of the architectural
firm Platt Byard Dovell White was selected to design the new
museum space, which is expected to be complete in the autumn
of 2008. The space, which is surrounded by views of the skyline
of midtown and the Hudson River, will reflect the original
loft-style character of the early 20th century building. We
are trying to create an environment in which the traditional
elements of the American Numismatic Society and its activities
blend into a contemporary setting, says Sam White. The
architects were able to incorporate furniture, shelving, and
many other elements from the ANS previous buildings
into the location. Séamus Henchy Associates will be
overseeing the entire renovation process as owners representatives;
their recent projects included the Julliard School and the
American Folk Art Museum.
Some of the enhancements that the new ANS
headquarters at One Hudson Square will offer are:
A gallery where changing exhibits of new
acquisitions and special collections can be mounted.
Ample office space for the growing curatorial
department and a separate, closed coin viewing area which
will allow visitors/researchers a place to study coins and
other objects from the collection.
The August B. Sage Society Room is a well-appointed
room with views of midtown Manhattan and the Hudson River
for meetings, conferences and other events.
Conference rooms for smaller size gatherings
and meetings.
A Lecture Hall and Board Room combined
space with reconfigurable furniture and updated audio-visual
equipment for meetings and lectures.
A Members lounge situated in the entrance
area that will accommodate about a dozen members and offer
splendid views of the Hudson River
.Newly elected American Numismatic Society
President Roger S. Siboni commented, While the Trustees
and staff are saddened to leave the space at 140 William Street,
we have come to the realization that the Society could not
afford to maintain a building of over 35,000 square feet nor
raise the required capital to complete the renovation project.
We were fortunate to have concluded our sale and negotiated
our lease on very favorable terms considering the challenges
that exist in the current real estate climate. Leasing the
new location at One Hudson Square will provide us with the
facilities we need while ensuring a financially secure future
for the American Numismatic Society.
The Societys Executive Director Ute
Wartenberg Kagan remarked that, With the sale of our
building at 140 William Street and as we enter into our 150th
Anniversary year, we will for the first time in decades have
an operating budget on sound footing and an endowment that
will permit the Society to fully serve its mission - to operate,
maintain and even expand our programs. We of course will continue
our long standing relationship with the Federal Reserve Bank
of New York where our exhibit Drachmas, Doubloons and
Dollars: The History of Money, and other changing exhibits
will continue to be available to the public.