The New York Tolerance Center (NYTC), in the heart of Manhattan, is a professional development multimedia training facility targeting educators, law enforcement officials, and government practitioners. Through interactive workshops, exhibits, and videos, individuals explore issues of prejudice, diversity, tolerance, and cooperation in the workplace and in the community.

The gallery space is a long, narrow basement area, creating changes in mood and atmosphere while balancing the visitor circulation were the main challenges. HKD worked closely with the project architects, NBBJ, to ensure a seamless integration between architecture and exhibition.

An internally illuminated “Smart Wall” was introduced to run through the gallery space. This carries all media and graphics, as well as defining different subject areas and creating a continuity of circulation. The display walls frame classroom and conference facilities for distance learning.

Since opening, HKD has developed new displays with a view to opening the exhibition to a general public audience. A recent innovation is the introduction of interactive rollergraphic displays that allow for an increase in the amount of content on display despite limitations of space.