Ray Harlem and National Black Theatre

Client Ray, LMXD
Location New York City, New York
Status Completed in 2025

National Black Theatre's new home will ensure that the institution continues to serve as a vital resource for artists and entrepreneurs.

Ray Harlem is a new mixed-use residential project for Ray and LMXD located in New York City's Harlem neighborhood. The project includes 222 units of mixed-income apartments above a new home for National Black Theatre (NBT), the longest-running Black theater in New York City. Founded in 1968 by visionary Dr. Barbara Ann Teer, NBT presented productions by, and about, Black Americans at a time when they were ignored by mainstream institutions. The new building ensures that NBT, a vital community resource, will be able to serve future generations.

Ray Harlem and National Black Theater integrates West African mythology, ritual, and symbolism into the design. The pink-red brick references the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove in Nigeria, honoring the original artisans behind the NBT space. A "Living Room" at the ground floor corner of 126th and 5th Avenue will be open to the public and serve as a community gathering space.

01 521 11 100
01 521 11 102
01 521 08 004
01 521 08 100

Scope

Design Architect Architect of Record

Project Team

Gary Handel Deborah Moelis Mikhail Kim Alex Kim Charith Kombarana Ashley Murphy Eugene Kao Mat Leung Noah Rosenberg Katerie Bourisquot Behzad Gharehjanloo Wen Jing Zhang Tina Kothari Ziqing Nie Jason Jung Emil Stojakovic Enmanuel Espinal Irmak Turanli Nathan Mollway

Collaborators

Frida Escobedo Architects Little Wing Lee

Photography and Visualizations

Lester Ali Luxigon