THEN

Founded in 1874, the Young Men’s Hebrew Association moved to the corner of 92nd Street in 1900. The current structure dates to 1929-30, a 10-story Art Deco tower designed by Gehron, Ross & Alley, architect of Jewish Theological Seminary in Washington Heights. Planned with a dormitory, gyms, kosher kitchen and auditorium, the 92NY art center was established in 1934. Countless lectures and performing arts events have occurred in the wood-paneled Theresa L. Kaufmann Auditorium. It was donated in her memory by husband Henry Kaufmann, whose brother Edgar commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. Henry Kaufmann also funded construction of the vaguely Brutalist south wing by architect Gilbert L. Seltzer, completed in 1968.