Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice

Midtown usually moves at street level. Here, the city rises around a garden. Opened in 1967, the Ford Foundation’s landmark headquarters wraps offices around a 12-story enclosed atrium of glass, granite, and Corten steel. Kevin Roche and John Dinkeloo shaped the building; landscape architect Dan Kiley designed what the foundation calls the first garden of its kind in the United States. Begin at the 43rd Street entrance, then let the stepped planting, reflecting pool, fountain, and changing light slow the room down. The atrium is not decorative scenery detached from the institution. Its openness was meant to make people aware of one another, and a 2018 renewal recast more of the building around accessibility, public gathering, art, and social justice. Walk the garden’s accessible path, listen for the fountain, and notice how offices remain visible across the void. The public gallery, when an exhibition is on view, extends the visit through work centered on justice, dignity, and fairness. This Hop requires planning. Garden and gallery visitors must preregister by 5 PM the day before, enter at 320 East 43rd Street, show photo ID, and present bags for inspection. Standard public visiting hours are Monday–Friday, 11 AM–6 PM; Saturday access depends on a gallery exhibition, and special closures occur. The 43rd Street entrance has power-assist doors and same-level access, and most of the garden is reachable by an accessible path. No registration, event admission, tour, or private access is included. More

Midtown usually moves at street level. Here, the city rises around a garden. Opened in 1967, the Ford Foundation’s landmark headquarters wraps offices around a 12-story enclosed atrium of glass, granite, and Corten steel. Kevin Roche and John Dinkeloo shaped the building; landscape architect Dan Kiley designed what the foundation calls the first garden of its kind in the United States. Begin at the 43rd Street entrance, then let the stepped planting, reflecting pool, fountain, and changing light slow the room down. The atrium is not decorative scenery detached from the institution. Its openness was meant to make people aware of one another, and a 2018 renewal recast more of the building around accessibility, public gathering, art, and social justice. Walk the garden’s accessible path, listen for the fountain, and notice how offices remain visible across the void. The public gallery, when an exhibition is on view, extends the visit through work centered on justice, dignity, and fairness. This Hop requires planning. Garden and gallery visitors must preregister by 5 PM the day before, enter at 320 East 43rd Street, show photo ID, and present bags for inspection. Standard public visiting hours are Monday–Friday, 11 AM–6 PM; Saturday access depends on a gallery exhibition, and special closures occur. The 43rd Street entrance has power-assist doors and same-level access, and most of the garden is reachable by an accessible path. No registration, event admission, tour, or private access is included. More