- Architect: HWKN Architecture
- General Contractor: Consigli Construction Co., Inc.
- Installer: Consigli / Riggs Contracting, Inc., Milford, MA
- Product: The Standard DURUS System
Award-winning HWKN Architecture designed the Keith Haring Wing at Bard College, realized in collaboration with C.T. Male Associates in late 2025. The project honors Keith Haring, whose dynamic art and iconic subway drawings have become emblematic of New York City. The new 12,000 square-foot wing essentially doubles the size of Bard’s Center for Curatorial Studies (CCS), including an upgrade of its library and archives, better accommodating students, scholars, and researchers alike.
Architecturally, the Keith Haring Wing is conceived as a one-story masonry structure characterized by minimalist, light-filled interiors. The brick façade, which takes on a multidimensional aesthetic, is the DURUS Brick System from Desana, which utilizes thermally isolated aluminum subframing to create an open cavity for insulation, ventilation and drainage. In this case the cavity depth was expanded up to 12 inches to create and support the three dimensional ‘boxes’ within the field area of the project.
Open ceilings aligned with the building windows allow natural light deep into the space, which fosters an inviting and productive atmosphere for research and study. The design balances utility with aesthetic refinement, ensuring that the new wing is both highly functional and visually inspiring.
Beyond expanded library space, the new wing includes six office spaces for visiting faculty and researchers, promoting collaboration. Additionally, the wing features a 30-person classroom and a smaller collaborative study room intended for courses, workshops, and study groups. These spaces are particularly beneficial to Bard’s undergraduate Art History and Visual Culture program and other departments, enriching the educational landscape.