The historic building at 32 Second Avenue may soon have a new look. The 1920-built structure opened as the Manhattan Third District Magistrate's Courthouse but since 1979 has been owned by the Anthology Film Archives. It is designated as a New York City landmark as part of the East Village/Lower East Side Historic District, and permits were recently filed to marginally alter the structure so it may continue to operate as a functional space for the avant-garde film institution and cinema.
Anthology Film Archives opened their doors to the public in 1989 and though the building had been repurposed from a judicial building, the vision was incomplete. Currently, the building has two theaters and a film fault, but as an international film archive that must remain financially viable to operate, original plans called for a materials library and a cafe. Both will finally be added according to new plans drafted by Bone/Levine Architects, the designers of the alteration. The full proposal adds a cafe to the first floor, a fourth floor library, and a multi-purpose penthouse floor.
The alteration would add 8,329 square feet to the structure, growing the building's space to more than 21,400 square feet. The addition would raise the structure by 18 feet, from 46 to 64, and an elevator would also be added. Take a look at the project's renderings courtesy of Bone/Levine Architects below.
Anthology Film Archives opened their doors to the public in 1989 and though the building had been repurposed from a judicial building, the vision was incomplete. Currently, the building has two theaters and a film fault, but as an international film archive that must remain financially viable to operate, original plans called for a materials library and a cafe. Both will finally be added according to new plans drafted by Bone/Levine Architects, the designers of the alteration. The full proposal adds a cafe to the first floor, a fourth floor library, and a multi-purpose penthouse floor.
The alteration would add 8,329 square feet to the structure, growing the building's space to more than 21,400 square feet. The addition would raise the structure by 18 feet, from 46 to 64, and an elevator would also be added. Take a look at the project's renderings courtesy of Bone/Levine Architects below.
Rendering with the proposed cafe, library and multi-purpose penthouse (Image via Bone/Levine Architects)
Multi-purpose penthouse space (Image via Bone/Levine Architects)
Schematic of the redesigned first floor with cafe (Image via Bone/Levine Architects)
The new fourth floor library (Image via Bone/Levine Architects)
Related Articles
Future New York
Price Cuts: Steve Wynn relists Ritz Carlton penthouse $20M below initial ask; Final availabilities at The Elisa marked down
Thursday, July 9, 2026
Lower East Side
Q&A with Ben Picket on Gotham Organization tech-forward approach to improving luxury rental living
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Future New York
Justin and Hailey Bieber’s West Village condo leads a $500M week of Manhattan sales
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Future New York
Manhattan sees strongest June since 2022 as Central Park Tower and 95 Madison drive contracts
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Williamsburg
Taking game night to the next level: 15 NYC condos with elevated game rooms and billiards tables
Friday, June 26, 2026
New Jersey
Hudson House West: Two months free rent and hotel-style amenities at final building in Jersey City's Hudson House Collection
Friday, June 26, 2026
Future New York
Best June for Manhattan contracts; David Bowie's former Essex House condo finds a buyer
Friday, June 26, 2026
Future New York
New York’s Classical Revival: See the new Penn Station and traditional designs reshaping the luxury residential market
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
6sqft delivers the latest on real estate, architecture, and design, straight from New York City.
