Swedish photo museum taps CetraRuddy, Roman and Williams for its NYC outpost

Fotografiska, the Stockholm-based photography museum, has unveiled the design team for its new Gramercy location that is scheduled to debut in spring 2019. The for-profit foundation has picked CetraRuddy to lead the transformation of its landmarked space at 281 Park Avenue South, and Roman and Williams will design a restaurant for the photography center, on the second floor of the building.

Other members of the design team include Higgins Quasebarth & Partners, which will work as the preservation and restoration consultant on the project, particularly focussing on the stained glass windows on the second floor, and the building’s limestone and granite facade. Fotografiska has hired tech consultancy firm Linq to design a multi-sensory experience for visitors walking through the six-story space of the museum.

The building is owned by Aby Rosen’s RFR Realty, which inked a leasing deal with Fotografiska for the entire building last year. RFR had picked up the property in 2014 for $50 million, and had been mulling over whether to convert it into office space prior to the agreement with Fotografiska.

The stunning Park Avenue South building was originally home to the Church Missions House, and was built toward the end of the 19th century. It has housed several offices and non-profit organizations in the years since. It was designated a New York City landmark in 1979.