International Center of Photography at Essex Crossing Takes Shape, Seeks Liquor License
Its brief stint on the Bowery is limited. Come next year, the International Center of Photography will consolidate operations at Essex Crossing. The new headquarters has gradually taken shape over the last several months, and the boxy building finally resembles the initial rendering.
Installation of exterior “aluminum screen” paneling recently completed, and most of the construction materials are gone from the site.
As previously noted, the museum purchased a pair of commercial condo units at 242 Broome Street (aka Site 1). The new digs will offer enough real estate to combine both the museum and school, which had been separated when the former moved to 250 Bowery in 2016. Their footprint spans 40,000 square-feet of space divided between the stout four-story structure and the ground floor of the main residential tower, but connected by a set of so-called “soho stairs.”
The organization also seeks a full liquor license for an onsite venue (i.e. ICP Operators), which briefly appeared on the September Community Board 3 agenda before canceling. It’s probably related to the proposed Eleven Madison Park events space.
The International Center of Photography will open to the public in the summer of 2019.
Below is a rendering of how it’ll look, courtesy of Moso Studio.
Up above, meanwhile, there are a total of 55 residential condo units, 11 of which are available to households earning no more than 125% AMI (Area Median Income), and range from one- to three-bedrooms.

Photo: Moso Studio