57th Street Studios

This multi-studio facility at the corner of 57th Street and 12th Avenue used to be the Art-Kraft Strauss Building, where the giant signs that adorned New York City’s buildings and billboards were made.

In its 1st incarnation in 1997, the 1st floor of chashama 57 was divided into over twenty studio areas for several months before the need for repairs forced a temporary vacate.

Then in 2001, chashama returned to the space and installed twenty-six 1st floor studios, most with natural as well as artificial light, and ceilings high enough to accommodate even the very large geometrical figures of sculptor Jose Landoni.

chashama 57 hosted several Open Studio events downstairs; and on the 2nd floor space was used for a construction prototype of pallet housing for the poor in undeveloped countries, a theatrical open rehearsal, in-house rehearsals, and some small film shoots.

This space was de-acquisitioned in 2012 and is being developed as the Bjarke Ingels-designed residential “pyramid building” with the address: 625 West 57th Street.