Like the fashion industry, New York City real estate is big on turnover, but one Garment Center address protects the present and the past.
A spiderweb of scaffolding covers the Beaux-Arts facade of the Bryant Park Studios at 80 West 40th Street. As far as historic Midtown buildings go, it is pretty much a gem. Through the decades the turn-of the-century structure has housed a litany of photographers and artists — Bert Stern, Irving Penn, Norman Rockwell, Fernand Léger, Edward Steichen, J.C. Leyendecker, Florine Stettheimer, Kurt Seligmann, Leon Gordon, Haskell Caffin, Brad Hall and Edward Suydam among them. Remnants of its lore can be found in its “Vault Museum,” the basement space that doubles as Mountain Development Corp.’s New York office.
Its lofty, largely naturally lit studios rarely come up for rent, as Stan Herman can attest. The 91-year-old designer has worked there since the early Seventies and recently renewed his lease for two years. Frances Valentine, Nick Graham, Trina Turk, Eleventy, Moose Knuckles Canada and interior designer Thad Hayes are some of the tenants at the Bryant Park property.
While most New York City museums blast news of their exhibitions via social media, this underground one is more likely to be discovered by
A spiderweb of scaffolding covers the Beaux-Arts facade of the Bryant Park Studios at 80 West 40th Street. As far as historic Midtown buildings go, it is pretty much a gem. Through the decades the turn-of the-century structure has housed a litany of photographers and artists — Bert Stern, Irving Penn, Norman Rockwell, Fernand Léger, Edward Steichen, J.C. Leyendecker, Florine Stettheimer, Kurt Seligmann, Leon Gordon, Haskell Caffin, Brad Hall and Edward Suydam among them. Remnants of its lore can be found in its “Vault Museum,” the basement space that doubles as Mountain Development Corp.’s New York office.
Its lofty, largely naturally lit studios rarely come up for rent, as Stan Herman can attest. The 91-year-old designer has worked there since the early Seventies and recently renewed his lease for two years. Frances Valentine, Nick Graham, Trina Turk, Eleventy, Moose Knuckles Canada and interior designer Thad Hayes are some of the tenants at the Bryant Park property.
While most New York City museums blast news of their exhibitions via social media, this underground one is more likely to be discovered by