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It's that time of year again: No, not Pumpkin Spice Latte season, but Archtober, the monthlong festival celebrating architecture, design, and urban planning. Organized by the Center for Architecture and now in its eighth year, the festival provides an umbrella for events, lectures, exhibitions, and other programming throughout New York's five boroughs all month long. Whether you're a local professional, an enthusiast, or a tourist looking to tack some architecture education onto your visit, there's plenty to see and do. Below, find AD PRO's picks of the not-to-miss happenings (and see Archtober's website for the full list).
Ongoing: Architecture of Memory: 9/11 Memorial and Museum Tour
9:00 A.M. to 10:30 A.M.
On October 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, and 26, the National September 11 Memorial and Museum (whose structures were designed by Michael Arad and Snøhetta, respectively) hosts tours that explore the neighborhood of downtown Manhattan before and after the 9/11 attacks, highlighting how the infamous day forever left an imprint on the city. $125; register here.
Ongoing: AIA Architecture Boat Tours
There's no more comprehensive view of Manhattan's skyline than from the water. Join one of AIA's architecture boat tours this month, which focus on everything from Lower Manhattan to historic architecture to bridges and infrastructure. $78; register here.
October 2: Rebel Architecture: How to Dismantle Power Through Design
6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.
The aptly named Urban Democracy Lab at NYU Gallatin has organized this panel with Nandini Bagchee, Germane Barnes, Nicholas Korody, and Louise Harpman, which will discuss ways in which architectural structures and urban planning can be exclusionary—and how to turn that around. Free; register here.
October 3: New York’s Housing Crisis: Which Way Forward?
6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.
It's no secret that large urban centers like New York are facing shortages in affordable housing. In this panel organized by the Museum of the City of New York, Harvard economist Edward Glaeser and sociologist Miriam Greenberg will discuss the political, social, and economic forces driving this shortage—and what we can do to address it. $20; register here.
October 6, 7, 27, 28: Hendrick I. Lott House Tour
Join the Historic House Trust for a tour of one of New York's best historic homes, the Dutch Colonial Hendrick I. Lott House in Brooklyn, one of the oldest of its style in Kings County. Tours at 11 A.M. and 1 P.M. $25; register here.
October 6: Saturday Sketching at the Guggenheim
10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Stop by Frank Lloyd Wright's iconic Museum Mile masterpiece on Saturday, October 6, and the museum will provide drawing materials for you to record your experience with something other than Instagram. Free; register here.
October 6: Modern Architecture and Adaptive Re-Use in the West Village and Meatpacking District
10:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.
Join AIA New York in a walking tour to spot new and adapted projects by the likes of Paul Rudolph, Hugh Hardy, Kohn Pedersen Fox, SOM, SHoP, Morris Adjmi, Selldorf Architects, WORKac, and more throughout the West Village and the Meatpacking District. $30; register here.
October 7: Film Screening: 100 Women Architects in the Studio of Frank Lloyd Wright
It's no secret that women have often been overlooked in the architecture field. That might be why few people know that one of history's greatest architecture firms—that of Frank Lloyd Wright—was largely propelled by female architects. This film spotlights the talented women who worked under Wright on some of his most iconic project. Screenings at 3 and 4 P.M., free with admission; more information here.
October 8: Reflective Nostalgia by Neri & Hu
6:30 to 8:30 P.M.
As designers and founders of the platform Design Republic, Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu have built a practice that spans seven countries and employs a diverse staff. In this talk, organized by the Columbia GSAPP, the duo discusses their effort of creating a new kind of global worldview through their design work. Free; more information here.
October 11: SuperDesign: Italian Radical Design 1965–75
6:00 to 8:00 P.M.
With Italian Radical design popping up in places as unexpected as department stores, it's no secret that the movement still resonates today. The School of Constructed Environments at Parsons is offering a deeper look into the movement and its origins in this talk. Free; register here.
October 11: Walking a Tightrope: Balancing Historic Preservation and Public Engagement
6:30 to 8:30 P.M.
How to preserve historic architecture while adapting it to the demands of a dynamic city? It's a question many architects have no doubt faced. In this panel discussion, South Street Seaport Museum’s director of collections, Martina Caruso; the Tenement Museum’s collections manager, Danielle Swanson, and director of curatorial affairs, David Favaloro; Cathedral of Saint John the Divine’s director of production, Jonathan Secor; Museum of Eldridge Street's director of public engagement, Chelsea Dowell, and Columbia University’s adjunct associate professor in historic preservation, Mary Jablonski will debate how to find the proper balance. $25, register here.
October 13: Build a Lego City
11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.
After Bjarke Ingels's inventive Lego House, we're convinced there's nothing you can't make with the colorful plastic blocks. Bring along your family for this day of building fun, where you'll have the chance to partake in several design challenges using Legos. Free; register here.
October 15: Architectural Tour of Gracie Mansion
10:00 A.M., 11:00 A.M., 5:00 P.M.
Join the Gracie Mansion Conservancy's executive director Paul Gunther for a tour of this historic property (which was notably redecorated by Jamie Drake in 2002). Now maintained by the Historic House Trust, the Federal-era gem, completed in 1799, has been New York City's official mayoral residence since 1942. Free; register here.
October 16: Power to the People: Designing for Resilience Post Hurricane Maria
4:00 to 8:00 P.M.
In this two-part program, participants will begin by discussing challenges to recovery after Hurricane Maria and brainstorming potential design solutions. Following that two-hour session is a panel, where experts will weigh in on the work at hand. $20; register here.
October 17: Untold Stories: Women of Architecture and Interior Design
6:00 to 8:00 P.M.
Columbia's Victoria Rosner and Mary McLeod (editors of Pioneering Women of American Architecture) join designer Tamara Eaton and architect Mimi Hoang to discuss feminist architecture practices, the omission of women from architectural history, and the future for women in the field. $15; register here.
October 18: October Green Light Training: LED Lighting – Evaluation & Selection
9:00 to 10:30 A.M.
Looking to be more green in your designs? Lighting is a good place to start. In this four-part training hosted by the Building Energy Exchange and led by Dan Blitzer of the Practical Lighting Workshop, participants will learn about everything from energy codes to retrofit solutions. $40; register here.
October 24: Archtober Trivia
6:00 P.M.
Take a break from the busy workweek with some fun—to benefit a good cause. The Center for Architecture and Housing Works host this trivia night, which will include questions on architecture, design, and New York City. Grab five friends and test your knowledge. $10; register here.
October 26: Hidden History of the South Street Seaport’s Architecture
5:00 to 6:30 P.M.
Opened as a port for the Dutch West India Company in 1625, the South Street Seaport is one of New York's most historic neighborhoods. Since then, it's transformed as much as the city around it. Join the South Street Seaport Museum for a tour that tells some of the area's history. $15; register here.
October 26: Pumpkitecture!
What's better than rendering designs in CAD or 3D-printed model? Depicting them in pumpkin form, of course. In this always-entertaining competition, 20 architecture firms compete for the coveted Pritzker Pumpkin (LOT-EK nabbed it last year). $15; register here.
October 27: Brooklyn Navy Yard: Architecture & Infrastructure Bicycle Tour
11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.
What better excuse to visit the Brooklyn Navy Yard than a fall bike ride? This guided tour will point out the history and architecture of the area and provide details on the Yard's current extension plan. BYO bicycle. $25; register here.
October 27: Archtober Wikipedia Edit-a-thon
12:00 to 4:00 P.M.
Think some of the architecture facts you read online are less than accurate? Lend your expertise to everyone's favorite online encyclopedia at this edit-a-thon, sponsored by AIA New York, Architexx, and the Bard Graduate Center, where special focus will be on reconciling the lack of entries on female, LGBTQ, and architects and designers of color. Free; register here.
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