SAB and MoMA
Posted by Sloan
Last week I had the pleasure of attending an alumni event at the School of American Ballet in celebration of the new addition of the Lincoln Kirstein Wing. I wrote a bit about this before, but the addition involved two new studios, suspended over two existing studios. The architecture firm of Diller Scofidio + Renfro did an incredible job keeping the spaces light and airy… an improbable task considering they were greatly decreasing the ceiling height and incoming light in the original studios.
In the hall leading to the Lincoln Kirstein Wing they hung photos from the construction of the new studios. One showed the studios from the outside, with a massive red steel beam trying to make it’s way through the window.
Here’s the original studio 3, with the new studio hovering above it.
A few people compared it to a spaceship, but everyone agreed that the unique design was an amazing way of keeping the studio more open, and less like the reality of having an oppressive second studio bearing down on it.
Me and Doug in a studio… It was fun to get to show him where I spent three pretty important and intense years of my youth 
Although I was so distracted and excited by the changes that I probably didn’t make a very good tour guide. I kind of wish they would do an alumni event in the dorms as well. Perhaps in the summer when they are empty (between when the year round students and the summer students are there). Isn’t that what colleges do? Can’t you visit your old dorm? Anyway…
Here’s the entrance to the Lincoln Kirstein Wing, even though the new part is actually more like the Lincoln Kirstein “Level”. The letters are written backwards so that it’s legible in the mirror.
This is the stairway leading up to the new studios.
Once upstairs, the first thing you see is the mini lounge area - very important for the dancers to have a spot to stretch, chat, and put on their shoes before class. The glass walls on either side have liquid crystal technology… with the flip of a switch they can go from translucent to opaque. I’d heard of this cool techie trick before, but hadn’t actually seen it in person until now. It’s just as magical and impressive as you’d think. And they’re using naked half-silver bulbs for lighting. This always looks neat and design-y, although Doug pointed out that a compact flourescent solution may have been a bit more efficient.
Here’s a view of the boys in class downstairs, from the studio above. It really feels like the studio is floating above them.
The glass walls are double hung, with about 5″ between each panel for extra soundproofing. You could hardly hear the class going on downstairs and if there had been a class going on up here, you wouldn’t hear a thing. No danger of competing pianos.
I love smart details like this… A floor outlet, in the corner where the tv/vcr unit goes.
After visiting SAB, we went to one more MoMA party for Doug Aitken’s Sleepwalkers. This time it was being held by MoMA’s younger event group PopRally, and instead of Seu Jorge performing, it was Cat Power (another one of the 5 subjects in Aitken’s piece).
Again, we found ourselves cold and waiting for a few mintues to get in. But at least we both had hoods to shield the bits of rain.
On a side note, Doug has been growing a beard since January 1. It’s for Bearduary, a concept/website started in part by Doug’s friend from college Chris Rubino. The growing starts January 1, the progress is documented through photos on the site, and the shaving happens March 1.
Once we got inside, this was the scene…
Hanging lantern lights above Cat’s performing space, and Sleepwalkers outside in the background.
A great shot of the lights, by lizthegirl.
Cat Power, up close and personal. I love this photo… it’s also by lizthegirl.
courtesy 
