Address
3 Beekman Street, Beacon, NY 08
Phone Number
(845) 440 - 0100
Date Visited
06/13/2015
Website
Dia Beacon
Description
Dia Beacon is located at 3 Beekman Street, Beacon, NY. The paved parking lot has five handicapped spaces. The entrance center is to the left of the parking lot. In this portion of the building is the admission desk, Homespun Dia Cafe and bookstore as well as multi-stall, handicapped-accessible restrooms.One must leave this portion of the building, walk halfway across the courtyard with its diamond shaped pavers (with a depression in the center of each) and turn left to enter the museum space. Two separate, large single doors are at the street level entrance. The museum has smooth concrete, or original wood floors.Several galleries have benches.
Elevators or steps go to all five levels. There is elevator access to the west garden, which has deep gravel in its walkways.
Multi-stall, handicapped-accessible restrooms are located in the galleries.
- Surface of lot: paved
Distance to venue: close
Transportation to venue offered: no
Terrain: flat
Places to rest: no
Paths and walkways: concrete and pavers
Doors: single doors
Number of floors: 5
Elevators: to all levels
Ramps: no
Steps and staircases: to all levels
Width of aisles: spacious
Places to sit: benches in some galleries
Location of restrooms: in visitor center and galleries
Type of restroom: multi-stall, handicapped-accessible
Ease of entry and exit: good
Baby changing station: yes
Available food services: Homespun Dia Cafe
Friendliness of staff: pleasant
I had known about Dia:Beacon for some time but ha been there. On the same day we visited the Storm King Art Center we made our way across the Hudson a mere twelve miles to Dia:Beacon.
Occupying a former Nabisco box printing facility on the banks of the Hudson River, Dia pioneered the conversion of an industrial building for the installation of contemporary art. The nearly 300,000square foot building houses large scale installations, painting and sculpture. The 31 acre site includes the building, entrance center, parking lot and formal gardens. (website)
As we entered the paved parking lot, we found five handicapped spaces. The entrance center is to the left of the parking lot. Located in this portion of the building we found the admissions counter, Homespun Dia Cafe, and gift shop, along with multi-stall, handicapped-accessible restrooms that have baby-changing stations.
We were direced to leave this portion of the building, walk halfway across the courtyard and turn left to enter the museum itself. Although the courtyard is nice, diamond shaped pavers, each with a depression in the center, make this less than a smooth walk or ride.
Two large, separate, single doors led us to the massive museum space, which has smooth concrete or original wood floors.
Eaallery is designed specifically for the presentation of an artist’s work. All of the galleries are incredibly light. More than 34,000 square feet of original skylights make Dia a “”daylight museum”” (website) We found benches in several of the galleries. Handicapped-accessible, multi-stall restrooms are located here.
Elevators or steps will get you to all five levels of this building. The west garden has elevator access as well. Take note, however, that the seasonally changing garden has deep gravel in its walkways.
Although thise is located so close to the Hudson there are no views of the river. If you want a great view take some time the follow the signs to Long Dock Park, located close by and right on the Hudson.
Dia:Beacon presents art from the 1960s to the present, contemporary as well as performance art. The vastness of this indoor space, along with the uniqueness of the part presented, makes for an interesting visit. It certainly gave us much to talk about. A room full of broken glass? A collection of plywood boxes? An installation made with string? My personal favorite is the work of Sol LeWitt, an artist whose work we had first seen at MassMCA.
As always, we at Destination Accessible, advise you to check a venue’s website, www.diaart.org, when planning a visit, to know before you go
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