EXPLORE THREE NEW YORK CITY AUDIO DESTINATIONS

In celebration of the Art of Noise  exhibition, join Cooper Hewitt for an exclusive HiFi walking tour of three New York City audio destinations in downtown Manhattan.

We’ll start at Arup, a global leader in built environment design. Raj Patel, Arup Fellow for Acoustics and Audiovisual Design, and his colleagues Joseph Digerness and Ryan Cox, will share insights from decades of acoustics, audio, and architectural research and tell us more about the Arup SoundLab®—a space designed to explore, understand, and perfect the science of sound to shape desired outcomes—and the next generation of the facility opening later in 2026.

Next, we’ll walk to All Blues Musiquarium, a Japanese-inspired listening lounge which sits just above the legendary record store Mixtape Club. We’ll enjoy a guided tour of their two distinct sonic spaces, browse rare vinyl, and unwind with drinks and snacks in an atmosphere where music does the talking. 

DESTINATIONS 

Arup SoundLab is a collaborative environment where you can explore and understand every aspect of acoustics, sound, and noise and then use it to shape desired outcomes. Originally developed in 1998 and opening in a new iteration later in 2026, it is a place where project constituents and stakeholders can come together to experience acoustics of existing and future scenarios. By providing objective, quantifiable information in an accessible format through listening, SoundLab makes the intangible tangible, demystifying the process and giving clients greater confidence that the design outcomes (and user experiences) will be as expected.   

All Blues Musiquarium is a listening bar committed to crafting an atmosphere where music and listening rightfully belong together. Located in Tribeca, Manhattan, All Blues strives to create an environment where music takes center stage and encourages all visitors to listen, appreciate, and immerse themselves in the vintage audio experience.

The Mixtape Club is a place to discover music. Since 2009, the website has shared mixtapes from music lovers around the world. In 2016, the record shop opened offering soul, dance, ambient, and the obscure on new and used vinyl records, cassettes, CDs, and printed matter. 

AccessibiliTy & What to Expect

  • Format: The program will include brief presentations, sound experiences, and the opportunity to explore the various spaces. During the tour, the group will be walking approximately 20-30 minutes (around 1 mile) of walking outdoors between locations, along city sidewalks and streets.
  • About the space: The program will take place offsite in downtown Manhattan, New York. The exact addresses will be sent to registered attendees before the event. Each location is wheelchair accessible, with elevators and accessible restrooms. A portable ramp will be installed at All Blues, if participants require ramp access. Please let staff know if you require ramp access when you register. 
  • Accommodations: We recognize the outdoor walking component may not be accessible to everyone. If walking the full route may prohibit your attendance, please contact us to discuss various options that may support your participation. We welcome questions and accommodation requests. Email us at CHEducation@si.edu or let us know when you register. Please make your request as far in advance as possible—preferably at least ten days before the program date. Read more about accessibility at Cooper Hewitt.

Support 

This exhibition is made possible by the August Heckscher Exhibition Fund, the Ehrenkranz Fund, the Barbara and Morton Mandel Design Gallery Endowment Fund, the Fisher Arts Impact Fund, and Jonathan Schroeder and Janet Borgerson.