The Studio Museum in Harlem – an institute promoting the work of artists of African descent – could move from its century-old headquarters, with plans by the architectural team of Adjaye Associates to develop a new US$122m (€110m, £79.1m) home in New

York City.

The conceptual design for the five-storey museum building by British-Tanzanian architect David Adjaye – which will be submitted to the city’s public design commission on 14 July – offers 70,000sq ft (6,500sq m) of space, 10,000sq ft (929sq m) of which is gallery space. In addition, the design features dedicated education spaces, a café and a free-to-enter roof area for sculptures and events, as well as a wide, glass-fronted lobby area, which will also include a lower level to serve as an area for public programmes.

"This project is about pushing the museum typology to a new place and thinking about the display and reception of art in innovative ways," said Adjaye.

"It is also about a powerful urban resonance – drawing on the architectural tropes of Harlem and celebrating the history and culture of this extraordinary neighbourhood with a building that will be a beacon for a growing local, national and international audience."

Adjaye’s proposed design is made up of a series of irregular blocks standing in contrast to the commercial buildings surrounding it on 125th Street. Windows of varying sizes add to the irregularity, helping the building to stand out against its surroundings, amplifying its presence.

New York-based architecture practice Cooper Robertson will also work on the project, serving as executive architect and programme planning consultant.

The city is contributing US$35m (€31.8m, £22.7m) to the project, while the Ford Foundation donated US$3m (€2.7m, £1.9m), with the remainder coming from fundraising and other outside sources.

Once open, the museum will showcase work by artists of African descent and others works inspired by black culture. With a collection dating from the 19th century to the present day, the museum holds more than 2,000 pieces in its permanent collection.

Assuming planning is approved, work on the development is expected to start in 2017, with an opening date of 2019.

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