Tours Details
Dates: Every Sunday
Start time: 12pm EST
Duration: 2 hours (40min walking)
Meeting Point: Columbus Circle
End Point: Hearst Tower or VIA 57
Participants limit: 10
New York Upper West Side
Art and Architecture Tour
Situated between Central park and the Hudson River, the Upper West Side of Manhattan is home of some of the most prestigious academic and cultural buildings in the city. This is one of the prominent residential areas in the city, situated in between the parks and well connected by subway. Projects featured on this Upper West Side Architecture Tour include Lincoln Center for the Arts, Hears Tower by Foster and Partners, VIA W57 by Bjarke Ingels Group, Fordham University School of Law, St Jones Cathedral, Columbia University and its many buildings.
Important Projects Featured on this Tour
Time Warner Center, David Childs (SOM), 2004
LVMH Building, Christian de Portzamparc, 1999
Museun of Arts and Design, Allied Works Architecture, 2008
15 Central Park West, Robert Stern Architects, 2008
Foster + Partners, Hearst Tower, 2006
VIA West 57, Bjarke Ingels Grop, 2016
Fordham University School of Law, Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, 2014
Lincoln Center Redesign, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, 2011
Vivian Beaumont Theater, Eero Saarinen, 1965
Avery Fisher Hall, Max Abramovitz, 1962
Metropolitan Opera House, Wallace Harrison, 1966
NY City Ballet, Phillip Johnson, 1964
The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Gordon Bunshaft
Alice Tally Hall, Pietro Belluschi, Diler Scofidio+ Renfro, 2011
Additional projects in a 4 hour Tour:
American Museum of Natural History, Mould, Vaux & Post, 1887, Polshek Architects, Studio Gang, 2023
Columbia University Campus, McKim Mead White, 1896
Alfred Lerner Hall, Bernard Tschumi, 1999
Columbia Northwest Building, Rafael Moneo, 2010
Diana Center Bernard College, Weiss Manfredi, 2010
Columbia Manhattanville campus, Renzo Piano, 2017
Columbia Medical Center, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, 2016
Columbia Business School, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, 2022
Languages
Public tours are in English. Private tours are available in English, Spanish, Italian, French, Russian, Bulgarian and Catalan.
Columbus Circle
Your PhD Architect Guide
Ivan R. Shumkov, PhD
Dr. Ivan Shumkov is a New York based architect, urban planner, entrepreneur, and professor with more than 20 years of experience across the private, public, and academic sectors. He is the founder of Build World and Build Academy, organizations dedicated to providing professional solutions and education for the built environment.
Ivan combines his experience of practicing and teaching architecture with his passion for discovering and sharing the history and secrets of New York. His tours provoke curiosity, show hidden urban gems, and provide opportunities for experiencing and understanding art and architecture in a unique way. He helps his guests to see and connect the city through the eyes of an architect. They are activated and transformed by these immersive experiences and view the city in a new way.
Ivan is a licensed NYC tour guide. Being fluent in multiple languages, he can conduct tours in English, Spanish, Catalan, Bulgarian, French and Italian.
Semi-Private Walking Tour
You’ll expperience NY with a small group of up to 10 other Art and Architecture professinals, enthusiasts and lovers.
Exclusive Private Tour
You’ll experience NY by yourself or with a group of your family, freinds and colleagues. Call or email us to customize your tour experience.
Experience New York with our PhD Architect-led Tours
Our public tours are 2 hours of transformational experiences that connect people with the city on a deeper level. We focus on 8 areas according to the location, neighborhood and their distinct character - weaving culture, history, architecture, art and design in an engaging, story-telling manner to uncover some of the city’s hidden gems and best-kept secrets.
