On Friday, October 31, the ABC No Rio community came together at 156 Rivington Street for the first time since breaking ground to celebrate ‘topping out’ on the new building!
We were joined by officials from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA), NYC Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), District Council member Christopher Marte, and Assemblymember Harvey Epstein.
Construction on the new facility started in July 2024, and 15 months later the building’s superstructure is now complete! We’ve reached the highest point in our building as construction continues to go smoothly. Our new home is expected to open in Fall 2026.
Stay tuned for more exciting news about the building coming soon. In the meantime, here’s an excerpt from the press release from the topping out ceremony:
Founded in 1980, the renowned Lower East Side arts center, has long embodied the neighborhood’s unique creative legacy. ABC No Rio’s new four-story building will be a multi-use arts center. Built on the same site as its beloved former tenement-turned-community center, it will include a photo darkroom, screen printing facility, small press library, digital resources, and expanded space for art, music, performance, educational and community activities, as well as meeting and office space for ABC No Rio and other organizations.
“ABC No Rio has always been more than just our building,” said Gavin Marcus, ABC No Rio Director. “We are a collective of artists, activists, and radical thinkers who believe in the power of collaboration and resource sharing to spark conversation, community, and mutual support. Our new home will continue to be an inclusive focal point for affordable, accessible arts and a meeting space for the city’s free thinkers, activists, artists, and musicians, united in a spirit of solidarity.”
ABC No Rio director, Gavin Marcus, with the Commissioner of Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) Laurie Cumbo
Designed to meet LEED Silver and the rigorous Passive House standard for sustainability and energy efficiency by Castrucci Architects, the building will be significantly more efficient than the state energy code requires. The project also includes water conservation and storm-water management features: low-flow plumbing fixtures, rainwater collection, and an 1100 square foot green roof.
“ABC No Rio has been at the heart of this neighborhood’s DIY arts scene for decades,” said Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. “Now, with its new home, it will shine even brighter as a hub for inclusive, creative communities—where arts programming stays open, affordable, and accessible for everyone. We’re proud to support this future with our $21 million investment and excited to celebrate this milestone in ABC No Rio’s journey.”
“ABC No Rio’s new home stands as a model for sustainable, community-focused development,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “As the first Passive House project in EDC history, ABC No Rio is growing its community footprint while reducing its environmental impact. We’re proud to support a space that looks toward the future – boasting top-tier energy efficiency that far surpasses City standards, while cementing its long legacy as a hub for creativity on the Lower East Side.”
ABC No Rio construction site as of 10.31.25 alongside the Paul Castrucci Architects rendering of the completed project.
“It’s been wonderful working with first Steven and then Gavin on this project. The building strives to be the physical manifestation of ABC No Rio’s bold, inclusive mission, and we’re proud to provide the collective with this LEED certified, Passive House certified building—one as forward-thinking as the community it serves,” said Paul Castrucci.
In addition to the $21 million in city funds provided through DCLA by the NYC Mayor’s Office, City Council, and Manhattan Borough President, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, through the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC), contributed $275,000 toward the building.
For over 40 years ABC No Rio has been a place where people shared resources and ideas to impact society, culture and community in an atmosphere of camaraderie and mutual support. Through new construction, ABC No Rio will build a dramatically improved facilities for our cultural, community and educational activities:
- Create spaces specifically designed for ABC No Rio programs and events
- Double the size of the gallery and performance space
- Increase programming and audience diversity
- Install an elevator and make the building wheelchair accessible
- Provide a model public Passive House building
- Install new energy- and water-efficient building-wide systems
- Increase capacity for alternative energy use
Principal architect, Paul Castrucci, and ABC No Rio director Gavin Marcus leading a Hard Hat Tour back in mid-october for Open House New York
For more information and to keep up to date on the new building progress view our new building page.