Lichtenstein West Village Studio Expansion Considered By Landmarks

WEST VILLAGE — The Whitney Museum hopes to expand Roy Lichtenstein's Washington Street studio to house its elite Independent Study Program, city records show.

The Landmarks Preservation Commission received last month a proposal to add a single story to the 9,000-square-foot building at 741-745 Washington St., according to a presentation dated Aug. 9.

The proposal comes months after the celebrated pop artist's widow Dorothy Lichtenstein announced she'd donated the space — where the reflections, the interior and brushstroke series were created — to the museum, the New York Times reported at the time.

The Lichtensteins moved into the building, which they converted from a garage and metal shop into a studio and living space in 1988, the pop artist's wife told the board.

"I'm thrilled that the Independant Study Program will be located in Roy's studio," Lichtenstein told the Landmarks Presentation Commissioner board.

"I'm honored that his legacy of creativity and art making will continue at this location."

New York YIMBY was first to report on the presentation for the Washington Street studio between Bank and Bethune streets.

The Whitney's Independent Study Program has been around since the 1960s and fostered local New York City artists and writers such as New York Times critic Roberta Smith, conceptual artist Glenn Ligon and Guggenheim chief curator Naomi Beckwith, Whitney director Adam Weinberg told the LPC committee.

"Dozens and dozens of artists and writers, critics and directors have been spawned by this program," Weinberg said. "It's a wonderful kind of fit within a neighborhood that is both residential and has a long industrial history that has often been used for artist housing."

Renderings were presented by the Los Angeles architecture firm Johnston Marklee & Associates, whose projects include the UCLA Margo Leavin Graduate Art Studios and Dropbox global headquarters in San Francisco.

In addition to the added story, plans call for adding new windows, stairs and a chimney expansion to the building in the Greenwich Village Historic District.

Firm founder Sharon Johnston said the goal of the design was to "harmonize but sort of deference" the industrial design of the building.

The public hearing included testimony from several local artists and residents who championed the project and praised the plans, which were characterized as "thoughtful" and "in character with the district."

The Landmarks Preservation Board did not issue a ruling but several members echoed the positive sentiments outlined in the testimony received.

"Adding new to old is really one of the great challenges of architecture today," said LPC Vice Chair Frederick Bland. "And one of the most difficult things to pull off as well."