by Center for Architecture
The Center for Architecture is honored to have been selected to receive support through the Frankenthaler Climate Initiative, a grantmaking program established by the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation in collaboration with Environment & Culture Partners and RMI to catalyze climate action in the visual arts. The Frankenthaler Climate Initiative (FCI) is the first nationwide program to support energy efficiency and clean energy use for the visual arts and the largest private national grantmaking program of its kind for cultural institutions.
The Foundation announced on June 26, 2025, that it had awarded $3.4 million in FCI grants to 74 visual arts organizations across the United States supporting the advancement of energy efficiency and clean energy projects. We are extremely grateful to be among this year’s grantees. The $26,500 fund will be used to support climate-focused improvements to the Center for Architecture building at 536 LaGuardia Place. This project aligns with our greater vision for a sustainable city by advancing energy efficiency and environmental responsibility within our own operations. The grant will go towards hiring external sustainability consultants and building systems professionals to identify and assess clean energy needs and options—potential upgrades include enhanced window and building insulation as well as more efficient lighting systems. As a hub for architecture and design in New York City, enhancing our building’s performance is both a practical necessity and a meaningful step toward achieving climate-responsive design.
Launched in 2021, the multiyear FCI initiative funds energy efficiency programs and clean energy projects at visual art organizations, including art museums, art schools, non-collecting arts institutions, and nonprofit art events. To date, the Foundation has conferred more than $17.5 million supporting 318 energy efficiency and clean energy projects at 249 institutions across 40 states in the U.S. through the Frankenthaler Climate Initiative.
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