Visitor information
The Ford Foundation is committed to providing an inclusive and equitable experience for all who visit or work at our New York office. Below you’ll find information on entering and accessing the building’s main areas.
All visitors are required to complete a registration process and enter through the main entrance at 320 East 43rd Street.
Location and hours
The Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice is located at 320 East 43rd Street. The main entrance at 320 East 43rd Street is wheelchair accessible, has power-assist doors, and provides same-level access to our reception desk, welcome lounge, and the Ford Foundation Gallery.
The 42nd Street entrance is currently closed.
If you are attending an event or meeting and have questions about entering the building, please check with your host before arriving.
- Train: Metro-North or 4, 5, 6, 7, or S subway to Grand Central Station
- Bus: M42, M15, X21
- Car: The 320 East 43rd Street entrance features a covered driveway for drop-off and pick-up. Please be sure to use this address when mapping your driving or ride-share route.
Public visiting hours
Monday – Friday
11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday
11 a.m. – 6 p.m.*
*When Ford Foundation Gallery has an exhibition on view.
The garden will be closed or close early on the following dates:
April 24th – 2:30 p.m.
APRIL 29th – 2:30 P.M.
April 30th – 1:30 p.m.
Location
Ford Foundation
320 E 43rd St
New York, NY 10017
USA
Tel. (+1) 212-573-5000
Fax. (+1) 212-351-3677
Visitor guidelines
We look forward to welcoming you to the Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice. Your health and safety remain our highest priorities so you can enjoy your experience at the center.
Security guidelines
To ensure the safety of all of our community members, all public visitors to the garden and gallery, guests, and event attendees are required to adhere to the following security protocols:
- All visitors must complete a registration process with security and provide an official photo ID prior to entry.
- If you are:
- A meeting or event attendee, register with your meeting or event host. Please note that the name on your ID must match the name used for your registration.
- A group of five or more planning a visit to the garden, you must email [email protected] at least 24 hours in advance with your name, group/organization information, and your anticipated arrival time and date to coordinate your visit.
- A garden visitor who requires information about garden accessibility and would like assistance planning your visit, please email [email protected] at least 24 hours in advance with your name, anticipated arrival time date, and access needs.
- All bags are subject to screening.
- Large bags and suitcases are not allowed in the building.
- Those attending meetings or events should allow additional time to complete these screening procedures before their meeting or event begins.
- Visitors must follow all posted signage and guidance from our security team.
- We reserve the right to deny entry to or remove any visitor who is unable or unwilling to comply with our visit guidelines.
Health guidelines
As a visitor, we ask that you abide by our health and safety protocols, posted signage, and any guidance provided by onsite staff. We reserve the right to request that visitors who do not adhere to our guidelines leave the center.
Because COVID-19 remains highly transmissible, there is an inherent risk of exposure in any public environment. We ask that you help us reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 and other respiratory and infectious diseases by rescheduling your visit if you have tested positive for COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms, including for a cold, flu, RSV, etc. There are no vaccination, masking, or health screening requirements to visit the Center for Social Justice. We will continue to monitor the situation and make updates accordingly.
For your safety
Cleaning protocols, air quality and ventilation
Based upon guidelines and recommendations from the WHO, CDC and our own team of medical advisors, the following health and safety measures have been implemented within our building:
- In line with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, our air ventilation system now provides appropriate air filtration, outdoor air quantities, ventilation, and 100% fresh air circulation.
- We use antimicrobial MERV16 filters, which have the highest efficiency rating, and replace them monthly to ensure effectiveness.
- Our custodial team wipes down all high-traffic, high-touch areas (e.g., restrooms, elevators, railings, door handles) three times a day, and cleans all other spaces once a day.
- Sanitizer is available throughout the building.
Accessibility
- Main entrances are wheelchair-accessible and have power-assist doors
- Garden has a wheelchair-accessible path
- All floors are reachable by elevator
- Braille integration and wayfinding signage is available throughout the building
- Every floor includes wheelchair-accessible restrooms
- A restroom designed to accommodate people of short stature can be found on the 11th floor
- Service animals are welcome; however, pets are not permitted
- Learn more about our website accessibility
320 E 43rd Street entrance to the First Floor
321 E 42nd Street entrance to the A Level
(The 42nd St entrance is temporarily closed)
Navigating the building
All floors are reachable by elevator. Throughout the building, we provide braille integration and wayfinding signage to facilitate a more seamless journey for people who are blind or with low vision. We also happily welcome service animals; however, pets are not permitted.
Every floor includes wheelchair-accessible restrooms. A restroom designed to accommodate people of short stature can be found on the 11th floor.
The Garden
Our atrium garden is open to the public and is home to nearly 40 species of trees, vines, and shrubs. It features a reflecting pool and a reverberating fountain that allows visitors to hear the garden around them. The garden also includes a sensory section that enables people who are blind or with low vision to touch and interact with the plants and includes braille signage and audio interpretation.
The garden includes a wheelchair-accessible path reachable via a self-controlled passenger lift in the southeast corner. This path enables access to the majority of the garden.
The garden is open to the public Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. when the Ford Foundation Gallery has an exhibition on view.
Events at Ford
We are committed to hosting fully accessible events. The Ford Family Auditorium has wheelchair lifts that provide access to the stage along with accessible seating areas. We also have set up an induction loop that amplifies sounds for hearing aids.
Information about the accessibility features of our other convening spaces can be found on our Event Spaces page. If you are planning or attending an event and have questions about our accommodations and accessibility services, please contact your event organizer or send a message to [email protected] at least two weeks prior to the event. We will make every effort to help you fully participate.
Ford Foundation Gallery
The Ford Foundation Gallery is open to the public Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., when there is an exhibition on view. Admission is free. It is fully accessible and best reached via the 43rd Street entrance.
Docent-led tours are available for large groups by reservation. Groups larger than 15 are encouraged to make reservations in advance. To arrange a group visit or tour, contact us at [email protected].