The Africa Center has commissioned Caples Jefferson Architects to complete new spaces within the property to support a lush calendar of exhibitions, performances, and educational events. Located at 1280 Fifth Avenue on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, The Africa Center occupies 70,000 square feet of the building and is spread across three floors.
Caples Jefferson Architects is exclusively responsible for the museum’s interior spaces and a 4,000-square-foot outdoor terrace that overlooks Central Park.
The greater building at 1280 Fifth Avenue stands 19 stories tall and is designed by Robert A.M. Stern. Above the cultural center the building houses One Museum Mile, a 114-unit condominium property with a roof-level pool, a fitness center, cold storage, a children’s playroom, and on-site parking facilities.
Evening view of The Africa Center’s outdoor terrace – Robert A.M. Stern Architects; Caples Jefferson Architects PC
Second floor lounge and seating area at The Africa Center – Robert A.M. Stern Architects; Caples Jefferson Architects PC
Gallery at The Africa Center – Robert A.M. Stern Architects; Caples Jefferson Architects PC
STEM learning spaces at The Africa Center – Robert A.M. Stern Architects; Caples Jefferson Architects PC
The center’s core mission is to transform and expand the understanding of the African Diaspora, the role of people of African descent in the world, and the advancement of Africa-forward policies and an intercontinental exchange of ideas. To date, The Africa Center is the first museum to be constructed along Museum Mile since the Guggenheim Museum in 1959.
Since launching its inaugural programming in 2019, the center has presented a series of performances, art installations, film screenings, and book signings among other public engagements. Teranga, the building’s ground-floor restaurant, hosts its own schedule of private tastings and cooking demonstrations that have garnered critical acclaim.
Like many public venues in the New York City area, the center remains closed as a result of the global health crisis. The Board of Directors has not commented on when the facility might reopen.
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Would it be too much to ask for the cross streets for 1280 Fifth Ave? Thank you.
Yes, it would be too much.
109-110 Sts.
Thank you.
The renderings look so bland. White walls and no color. Got zero African vibe spirit. Lacks any spirit of Africa or even fun in general regardless of what the museum is for.
Monath: Google if necessary. It’s 2021.
There’s always a wise-ass..
‘Cross-streets’ is basic information that should be included in the original text. It shouldn’t need to become a research project.
Grow up Monath.
I’m with Monath. Cross streets are pretty basic, important information. Yimby readers would really benefit from including the cross streets in every article. “1280 Fifth Avenue, between 109th and 110th Streets.” Just a tiny bit of extra text, but a big improvement.
109th and 5th is East Harlem, not the Upper East Side, as much as realtors may spin it… yes, even though a building faces Central Park does not make it not in Harlem.
Yes!..that is spot on, and the ‘almost funny’ thing is that in another YIMBY story for today March 3rd, the lead in reads..
“Permits Filed for 20 East 110th Street in East Harlem, Manhattan”
Well, I have to agree that cross streets should ALWAYS be supplied. I live in Chicago and for the life of me I don’t know why 500 Fifth Avenue is some five miles from 500 Broadway, and why 500 Madison and 500 Park and 500 First Avenue don’t frick’n line up!
Projects. One block away