A busy week over there in New York, as the next story up is the news we just received from our friends over at the School of Visual Arts who have announced that they’re acquiring the Chelsea West Cinemas building, to be converted into auditoriums for the school’s use. What’s even more cool, beyond just the continue expansion of the SVA, following other recent real estate purchases, is that the new Chelsea building’s exterior and interior will be designed by the school’s Acting Chairman, Milton Glaser. We here at UnBeige wish them well with the process and, in doing so, hope they let us sneak and catch a lecture or a screening the next time we’re in the neighborhood. Here’s a bit:

SVA officials have increasingly sought to make strategic real estate acquisitions to match historic growth in all aspects of the College’s operations. Provost Dr. Christopher Cyphers said, “This theater will play a significant role in our continuing ability to expand and diversify the curricula at SVA. It not only satisfies a longstanding need for a space to accommodate large gatherings of the SVA community, but will create opportunities to partner with other cultural institutions.” In the past decade undergraduate enrollment has increased by nearly 25% and graduate enrollment by 45%. In the past five years, SVA introduced graduate programs in art criticism and writing; design criticism; and digital photography; and the BFA in visual and critical studies. Meanwhile, the growing popularity of public lectures by acclaimed artists, designers, scholars and critics has put pressure on current facilities resources.

SVA officials plan to open the theater this fall, with a formal public opening date to be announced.