(post by Dee) Ever drove over Queensborough Bridge or took the #7 train and noticed the red IDCNY sign towering over a building in Long Island City? I’ve been living in the area for 14 years before learning what that building is. In fact, it wasn’t until July 4th, 2007 that I found out what it was. A couple of friends, whose design studio is in the building, invited me for a 4th of July party there. Well, it turns out that IDCNY, short for International Design Center New York, located at 30-20 and 30-30 Thomson Street in LIC, has been there for quite some time, and had several lives, starting as a factory built by a fellow named Michael Degnon, “a contractor known for building the first subway tunnel and the Cape Cod Canal”. Read more about IDCNY’s origins here. According to this article from Real Estate Weekly from 1994, when LIC’s bright condo future was not so clear, yet, it was noted to be “it contains some of the most magnificent atrium-styled office space to be found anywhere in the five boroughs - meticulously designed and distinctively appointed facilities”. The friends who invited me have an ad agency and graphic design office there at a great price, with state-of-the-art office amenities, shared conference rooms and lots of space. Not to mention views, and, of course, the free VIP viewing of the fireworks (check out the pictures below!) It’s a space designated as an “incubator” for new businesses, appropriately located in LIC, home to many museums (PS1, Noguchi, Five Points, etc.) and galleries.

IDCNY is still home to The Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, founded in 2001 by the singer Tony Bennett, which is moving to its brand new location in Astoria, according to the Exploring the Arts website. It also houses DDC, aka NYC Dept of Design & Construction. Located right next to La Guardia Community College, DeVry University and just across Sunnyside Yards from LIC’s development and condo mania, IDCNY is finally finding itself in a neighborhood finally living up to its own potential.

IDCNY building and the view of Macy’s fireworks in 2007: