334 Amsterdam Avenue, aka Samuel Priest Rose Building, is the home of the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan. The gray brick and blue glass cube is striking; its materials, style and colors stand out on an avenue dominated by earth-tone classic masonry structures.
The building’s recreational facilities – including a gymnasium and tenth-floor swimming pool – created unusual design challenges.
Architectural trivia: The center’s after-school activities include construction classes for budding architects! Dubbed “Crazy Constructions,” the program lets 6- and 7-year-olds “Design and build towers, bridges, houses, rollercoasters, and other superstructures. Join Dazzling Discoveries as you explore and experiment with plastic bricks, wood, paper, and many other materials. Students will learn about engineering, architecture, and physics while inventing and creating their own toys and projects.”
334 Amsterdam Avenue Vital Statistics
- Location: 334 Amsterdam Avenue at W 76th Street
- Year completed: 2002
- Architect: Diamond Schmitt Architects
- Floors: 13
- Style: Postmodern
334 Amsterdam Avenue Recommended Reading
- Wikipedia entry (Diamond Schmitt Architects)
- Diamond Schmitt Architects project page
- DeSimone Consulting Engineers project page
- Jewish Community Center web site
- Jewish Community Center history/construction
- Emporis database