Behind-the-Scenes @ Westbeth: Site of Former Bell Laboratories Complex

Did you know that technological breakthroughs including the first talking picture, TV broadcast, and binary computer all originated inside one building in Greenwich Village? Now's your chance to see remnants of that historic research center, while getting introduced to its current tenants that comprise NYC's largest artist community.

Join New York Adventure Club for a behind-the-scenes tour of Westbeth Artists’ Housing, the world’s largest artist live-work community that's located in the former Bell Laboratories complex, widely known as one of the world’s most important research centers in the 20th century.

Led by a resident and staff member of the Westbeth Artists Residents Council, our special exploration through this massive facility will include:

• A brief overview of the history of Bell Laboratories, which was responsible for many technological breakthroughs including the first talking movie, the condenser microphone, the first TV broadcast, and the first binary computer was demonstrated
• The story of when the laboratory closed and underwent a massive restoration & renovation project to become one of the first industrial buildings adaptively reused for artistic and residential use in the United States
• An overview of the Westbeth artist community, and its famous former and current residents including actor Vin Diesel, photographer Diane Arbus, and puppet maker Ralph Lee
• A walkthrough of the historic lobby, atrium, and hallways
• An exclusive meet & greet with an artist inside their private art studio and residence

Our experience will conclude on the private roof deck with sweeping views of the city and Hudson River!

See you there!

*Access to the roof is weather permitting

**Due to building security measures, latecomers might not be able to join the tour once the group enters the building through the main entrance on Bethune Street entrance

***Select art pieces in the artist studio will be available for purchase

About Westbeth

Westbeth Artists’ Housing was conceived in the 1960s as a partial solution to the acute need to provide affordable housing and studios for artists and their families. In so doing, it became one of the first examples of adaptive reuse of industrial buildings for artistic and residential use in the United States. Located in NYC in Manhattan’s Far West Village, it is a complex of several buildings which were formerly the site of Bell Laboratories (1868-1966), one of the world’s most important research centers. It was here that the first talking movie, the condenser microphone, the first TV broadcast, and the first binary computer were demonstrated.

With innovative funding spearheaded by Joan Davidson of the J. M. Kaplan Foundation, and Roger Stevens of the National Endowment for the Arts, it became an ambitious renovation project designed to create 384 live-work spaces for artists of all disciplines and their families under the direction of developer Dixon Bain. Richard Meier was the renovation architect. Westbeth opened in 1970. Westbeth was added to the National Registrar of Historic Places on Dec 8, 2009. Subsequently, the New York State Historic Preservation Board nominated Westbeth to be on the State Registrar of Historic Places. On October 25, 2011 the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission unanimously designated Westbeth Artists Housing a New York City landmark. Significant research on Westbeth’s behalf was done by the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation.

Westbeth is owned by the not-for-profit Westbeth Housing Development Fund Corporation, administered by the Westbeth Board of Directors. Cultural events are sponsored by the Westbeth Artists Residents Council, a tenant-elected not-for-profit organization. For further info see Council. In addition to its residential component, Westbeth also contains large and small commercial spaces, performance and rehearsal spaces and artists studios both individual and communal, such as the Westbeth Sculptors’ Studio and the Westbeth Graphics Studio. Westbeth is also home to a number of major cultural organizations including the New School for Drama, The Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance, and Congregation Beth Simchat Torah, the first LGBT synagogue in New York.

Testimonials

"It was interesting to learn about Westbeth, its history and who lives there. It was also nice to be able to visit an apartment and get an inside look at it and meet an artist." -Lynn

"Being invited into her apartment …very interesting" -Joyce

"Interesting to see the inside of the building, by a resident." -Jenny

"I love the history of it all." -Karen

"I liked the guide, and I enjoyed going up on the roof." -Shalom

"Very interesting to see the apt complex and meet an artist at his home. good idea for a tour and the couple was nice and was a memorable experience." -Lorraine

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Categories: In-Person, Factory & Facilities Tours

Host or Publisher New York Adventure Club