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20 Must-See Open House New York 2015 Sites

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It's here! Open House New York released its list of the sites that will be open for its 2015 festival, and predictably, it's a doozy. Many of the greatest hits from recent years are back, including the TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport, the Brooklyn Army Terminal, and the Jefferson Market Library. But there are also more than 100 sites that are new to the event as of this year, including the recently renovated City Hall, Google's headquarters in Chelsea, and the beloved World's Fair New York State Pavilion. So how do you decide what to see? Use our list below as a guide: We've picked 20 of the best new-to-OHNY sites to see this year, some of which require reservations. And check out the full list of places to go on Open House New York's website.


· Open House New York 2015 [Official]
· OHNY coverage [Curbed]

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Bronx Community College, Marcel Breuer Buildings

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OHNY is teaming up with Docomomo (an organization dedicated to the preservation of modern design) to take visitors to Marcel Breuer's Brutalist concrete structures at Bronx Community College, including Meister Hall (pictured). Tours happen on Sunday, October 18.

Bronx General Post Office

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Tours of this 1937 building will be led by Studio V Architecture, which is currently working with Youngwoo & Associates on a master plan to renovate the space. Once completed, it will be a mixed-use development (with a smaller post office on site). Tours happen Saturday, October 17, and reservations are required. [Rendering by Studio V Architecture]

Brooklyn Public Library, Central Library Behind-the-Scenes Tour

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Bibliophiles, get ready: This tour takes visitors all over the Brooklyn Public LIbrary's beautiful Central Library, with stops including the Brooklyn Collection (where you'll find historical ephemera), the Trustees' Room, and—gasp!—the stacks underneath the building. Tours happen Sunday, October 18, and reservations are required. [Photo courtesy Brooklyn Public Library]

Brooklyn Strand

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Downtown Brooklyn's greenway, called the Brooklyn Strand, is still in the planning stages, but during OHNY weekend visitors can get a preview of what the proposal will entail. Claire Weisz of WYX Architecture and Design will lead tours, which happen on Sunday, October 18.

Industry City

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OHNY has introduced food-centric tours on Friday, October 16, including this behind-the-scenes look at some of the producers who've made their home in Sunset Park's Industry City complex. Some of the producers you'll visit include Colson Patisserie, One Girl Cookies, and Blue Marble Ice Cream. Reservations are required.

Kings Theatre

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After an extensive renovation, this 1920s-era Wonder Theater reopened to the public earlier this year. During OHNY, culture vultures can take self-guided tours of the ornate building, including its lobby and theater. Tours happen Sunday, October 18. [Photo by Ben Helmer]

34 St-Hudson Yards Station Tour

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This tour has two purposes: Artist Xenobia Bailey will be on hand to discuss her colorful piece Funktional Vibrations, which adorns the brand new subway station. The second part will take visitors to Hudson Park, where representatives from Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates will discuss the landscape architecture of the space. The tour happens Saturday, October 17, and reservations are required. [Funktional Vibrations by Xenobia Bailey, photo by Rob Wilson]

111 Eighth Avenue Infrastructure Tour

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The enormous building at 111 Eighth Avenue (home to Google, among other companies) has 2.9 million square feet of space—but you'll only see a small piece of that during this tour, which covers sustainable practices the building's owners have recently implemented, among other things. Tours happen Saturday and Sunday, and reservations are required. [Photo by Niall Kennedy via Flickr]

Google Inc. Design and Workplace Tour

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For those who are interested in what an average day is like for a Google employee, take this tour: You'll see workspaces, the cafeterias, a game room (!), and other startup-office amenities. Tours happen Saturday and Sunday and reservations are required. [Photo courtesy Google New York]

City Hall

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New York City's civic seat is in the midst of a years-long renovation, and on this tour, you can see some of the fruits of that labor. Some of the principals involved in that renovation will be available during the day to answer questions. Tours happen Saturday, October 17.

National Arts Club

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This club along Gramercy Park is typically closed to the public, so now's your chance to explore its ornate interiors, including the parlor and the bar, which is covered by a beautiful 19th-century stained glass cupola. Tours happen Saturday, October 17. [Photo by Shannon Nallan]

Randall's Island Park Tour

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It may not get as much ink as Governors Island, but Randall's Island has plenty of amenities of its own: On this tour of the island's southern end, visitors will see art exhibits, Icahn Stadium, flora, and an urban farm. Tours happen Saturday, October 17 and reservations are required. [Photo courtesy Randall's Island Park Alliance]

The Hills, Governors Island

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Governors Island's Outlook Hill recently reached its full, 70-foot-tall height, and on this tour, visitors can come to the now-closed park and get a preview of the site. There's only one tour, happening October 17, so expect reservations to go quickly.

DOT Traffic Management Center

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This tour will be like catnip for transportation nerds: Visitors can go behind the scenes at the Department of Transportation's traffic management center in Queens, learning what it takes to keep the city moving. One tour happens Saturday, October 17, and reservations are required. [Photo courtesy NYCDOT]

Marine Air Terminal

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There's at least one good reason to visit the beleaguered LaGuardia Airport: This stunning Art Deco terminal, which was created as part of the Works Progress Administration initiative and illustrates the glory of flight. Tours happen October 17 and 18. [Photo by Timothy Vogel via Flickr]

New York State Pavilion

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City officials and preservation groups have been working to find a way to open the New York State Pavilion, a relic from the 1964 World's Fair, to the public. But until a plan comes to fruition, you can visit the space on both days of OHNY. But be prepared for long lines. [Photo by Brendan Crain]

World's Fair Grounds

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The rest of the World's Fair site in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park is also open during OHNY: Docent-led tours will take visitors to landmarks like the Unisphere, among others. Reservations are required. [Photo by Brendan Crain]

The Onderdonk House

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One of New York City's oldest homes will be open to the public for OHNY. Visitors to this Queens residence can see its two structures—an 18th-century stone house and an addition built by the Onderdonk family in the 19th century—and learn about its ongoing restoration process. Tours happen October 17 and 18. [Photo by Linda Monte]

National Lighthouse Museum

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This brand new museum opened in August, and visitors during OHNY will have the chance to explore its historic buildings, exhibits, and a pier that's on-site. There will also be activities for kids. Tours happen October 17 and 18. [Photo by Emily Kreytak]

Staten Island Museum at Snug Harbor

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See the Staten Island Museum's new headquarters within one of the historic buildings in Snug Harbor. There's one tour happening October 18, and reservations are required. [Photo by Patrick Grenier]

Bronx Community College, Marcel Breuer Buildings

OHNY is teaming up with Docomomo (an organization dedicated to the preservation of modern design) to take visitors to Marcel Breuer's Brutalist concrete structures at Bronx Community College, including Meister Hall (pictured). Tours happen on Sunday, October 18.

Bronx General Post Office

Tours of this 1937 building will be led by Studio V Architecture, which is currently working with Youngwoo & Associates on a master plan to renovate the space. Once completed, it will be a mixed-use development (with a smaller post office on site). Tours happen Saturday, October 17, and reservations are required. [Rendering by Studio V Architecture]

Brooklyn Public Library, Central Library Behind-the-Scenes Tour

Bibliophiles, get ready: This tour takes visitors all over the Brooklyn Public LIbrary's beautiful Central Library, with stops including the Brooklyn Collection (where you'll find historical ephemera), the Trustees' Room, and—gasp!—the stacks underneath the building. Tours happen Sunday, October 18, and reservations are required. [Photo courtesy Brooklyn Public Library]

Brooklyn Strand

Downtown Brooklyn's greenway, called the Brooklyn Strand, is still in the planning stages, but during OHNY weekend visitors can get a preview of what the proposal will entail. Claire Weisz of WYX Architecture and Design will lead tours, which happen on Sunday, October 18.

Industry City

OHNY has introduced food-centric tours on Friday, October 16, including this behind-the-scenes look at some of the producers who've made their home in Sunset Park's Industry City complex. Some of the producers you'll visit include Colson Patisserie, One Girl Cookies, and Blue Marble Ice Cream. Reservations are required.

Kings Theatre

After an extensive renovation, this 1920s-era Wonder Theater reopened to the public earlier this year. During OHNY, culture vultures can take self-guided tours of the ornate building, including its lobby and theater. Tours happen Sunday, October 18. [Photo by Ben Helmer]

34 St-Hudson Yards Station Tour

This tour has two purposes: Artist Xenobia Bailey will be on hand to discuss her colorful piece Funktional Vibrations, which adorns the brand new subway station. The second part will take visitors to Hudson Park, where representatives from Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates will discuss the landscape architecture of the space. The tour happens Saturday, October 17, and reservations are required. [Funktional Vibrations by Xenobia Bailey, photo by Rob Wilson]

111 Eighth Avenue Infrastructure Tour

The enormous building at 111 Eighth Avenue (home to Google, among other companies) has 2.9 million square feet of space—but you'll only see a small piece of that during this tour, which covers sustainable practices the building's owners have recently implemented, among other things. Tours happen Saturday and Sunday, and reservations are required. [Photo by Niall Kennedy via Flickr]

Google Inc. Design and Workplace Tour

For those who are interested in what an average day is like for a Google employee, take this tour: You'll see workspaces, the cafeterias, a game room (!), and other startup-office amenities. Tours happen Saturday and Sunday and reservations are required. [Photo courtesy Google New York]

City Hall

New York City's civic seat is in the midst of a years-long renovation, and on this tour, you can see some of the fruits of that labor. Some of the principals involved in that renovation will be available during the day to answer questions. Tours happen Saturday, October 17.

National Arts Club

This club along Gramercy Park is typically closed to the public, so now's your chance to explore its ornate interiors, including the parlor and the bar, which is covered by a beautiful 19th-century stained glass cupola. Tours happen Saturday, October 17. [Photo by Shannon Nallan]

Randall's Island Park Tour

It may not get as much ink as Governors Island, but Randall's Island has plenty of amenities of its own: On this tour of the island's southern end, visitors will see art exhibits, Icahn Stadium, flora, and an urban farm. Tours happen Saturday, October 17 and reservations are required. [Photo courtesy Randall's Island Park Alliance]

The Hills, Governors Island

Governors Island's Outlook Hill recently reached its full, 70-foot-tall height, and on this tour, visitors can come to the now-closed park and get a preview of the site. There's only one tour, happening October 17, so expect reservations to go quickly.

DOT Traffic Management Center

This tour will be like catnip for transportation nerds: Visitors can go behind the scenes at the Department of Transportation's traffic management center in Queens, learning what it takes to keep the city moving. One tour happens Saturday, October 17, and reservations are required. [Photo courtesy NYCDOT]

Marine Air Terminal

There's at least one good reason to visit the beleaguered LaGuardia Airport: This stunning Art Deco terminal, which was created as part of the Works Progress Administration initiative and illustrates the glory of flight. Tours happen October 17 and 18. [Photo by Timothy Vogel via Flickr]

New York State Pavilion

City officials and preservation groups have been working to find a way to open the New York State Pavilion, a relic from the 1964 World's Fair, to the public. But until a plan comes to fruition, you can visit the space on both days of OHNY. But be prepared for long lines. [Photo by Brendan Crain]

World's Fair Grounds

The rest of the World's Fair site in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park is also open during OHNY: Docent-led tours will take visitors to landmarks like the Unisphere, among others. Reservations are required. [Photo by Brendan Crain]

The Onderdonk House

One of New York City's oldest homes will be open to the public for OHNY. Visitors to this Queens residence can see its two structures—an 18th-century stone house and an addition built by the Onderdonk family in the 19th century—and learn about its ongoing restoration process. Tours happen October 17 and 18. [Photo by Linda Monte]

National Lighthouse Museum

This brand new museum opened in August, and visitors during OHNY will have the chance to explore its historic buildings, exhibits, and a pier that's on-site. There will also be activities for kids. Tours happen October 17 and 18. [Photo by Emily Kreytak]

Staten Island Museum at Snug Harbor

See the Staten Island Museum's new headquarters within one of the historic buildings in Snug Harbor. There's one tour happening October 18, and reservations are required. [Photo by Patrick Grenier]