Steinway Hall (PRNewsFoto/Steinway & Sons)
Steinway & Sons, manufacturer of the world’s finest pianos, has announced the unveiling of the company’s new global flagship, Steinway Hall at 1133 Avenue of the Americas. Opening today in midtown Manhattan, the stunning two-level retail and performance space has been designed by the internationally renowned Selldorf Architects, recognized for their work within the art world. The new location will bring together Steinway’s remarkable heritage with exciting new musical and technological innovations in a contemporary setting. In doing so, the venue will address how today’s customers experience and select a piano, in addition to better serving the needs of the Steinway Artist community.
Steinway Hall will become a cultural destination in the heart of New York City, supporting the brand’s position as a leading ambassador for the musical arts. Totaling 19,000 square feet, the new flagship will not only serve as a retail space, but also house a 74-seat recital hall with a state-of-the-art custom Steinway Lyngdorf sound system, live-streaming capabilities that will allow musicians and audiences from around the world to connect, rehearsal studios for artists and students, a recording studio where performances for the new Steinway Spirio will be captured, and the fabled Steinway & Sons Concert & Artist Piano Bank.
According to Michael Sweeney, CEO of Steinway & Sons, “This is only the third Steinway Hall to be built in New York over the past 163 years, so there was an inherent desire to create something truly special that will become an exciting new part of the company’s history and the history of this city.” Sweeney adds, “This is more than a beautiful showroom where one can buy an extraordinary instrument. The new Steinway Hall will be a convivial gathering place where artists come together to collaborate, and where the public can meet to enjoy a wide range of musical programming that continues our tradition of celebrating arts and culture.”
Annabelle Selldorf, Principal of Selldorf Architects, states, “Working with Steinway & Sons in New York City has been a great experience and a privilege for us. The task was to translate the passion and care that the company devotes to building instruments of the highest quality into a space which also broadens their reach and their welcoming attitude in the city. We designed a new home for Steinway that is inviting for everyone whether they come to listen to a recital, purchase a piano or record in the studio, and even for those who are just passing by along Avenue of the Americas. I believe that we have created an extraordinary destination for music that embodies Steinway &Sons’ heritage of excellence and craftsmanship.”
Inside Steinway Hall, guests will find many details that reference the materials, craftsmanship and instruments that the company is lauded for, from end-grain oak flooring to recital hall seats covered in an Imperial Yellow fabric that is the same color found inside the action of a Steinway & Sons piano. Other features include a custom, bentwood decorative ceiling, and acoustic paneling in the concert hall that evokes the exquisite woods used to make each Steinway.
An artistic centerpiece of the new Steinway & Sons New York will be an installation by the artist Spencer Finch. Entitled Newton’s Theory of Color and Music (The Goldberg Variations), the work is an interpretation of Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Goldberg Variations” that explores the intersection of music, color and emotion, through light.
An additional 20,000 square feet of office space on the 33(rd) floor of the building has also been leased from the Durst Organization to serve as Steinway & Sons’ global headquarters, bringing the Steinway Hall project to nearly 40,000 square feet in total.
About Steinway & Sons
Since its founding in New York in 1853, Steinway & Sons has been considered the world’s premier piano manufacturer. Known for their exceptional craftsmanship, Steinway & Sons pianos are built in one of two company-owned and operated factories: Astoria, New York and Hamburg, Germany. Steinway & Sons pianos are still constructed primarily by hand, using many of the techniques developed over 160 years ago. Today, Steinway & Sons also offers the Boston and Essex piano lines, Listen, a magazine for music and culture lovers, and the Steinway & Sons record label. For more information, visit www.steinway.com.
About Selldorf Architects
Selldorf Architects is a New York City-based architectural design practice founded by Principal Annabelle Selldorf, FAIA, in 1988. The firm’s work encompasses public and private projects that range from museums and libraries to a recycling facility. Clients include the Neue Galerie New York, the Clark Art Institute, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, Brown University and numerous galleries for David Zwirner and Hauser & Wirth among others.