Snapshot: MASS Design Group Transforms an Abandoned Hudson Valley Cistern Into an Underground Arts Venue | Architectural Record
Descending into subterranean civic infrastructure for cultural events feels decidedly Old World. But MASS Design Group has brought the experience to upstate New York by transforming a decommissioned 3 million-gallon water tank into a unique performing arts space. The Poughkeepsie Cistern, completed in 1923 and buried under a hill in the city’s Northside neighborhood, is one of approximately six such containers scattered across the United States. After aboveground replacements were installed in 2017, the unreinforced concrete structure was drained in 2021 and work began to find ways to utilize its 36,500 square feet of vaulted ceilings, scalloped floors, unexpectedly exceptional acoustics, and year-round climate of 68 degrees.