The building is characterized by openness, natural light and materials, which are the hallmarks of the Scandinavian design principles and the progressive spirit that these have always embodied. The eight story building comprises over 28,000 square feet. Each public space within Scandinavia House has been designed to showcase Nordic life and contribute to the visitor's pleasurable experience. Situated on Park Avenue between 37th and 38th Streets, in the lovely Murray Hill area, Scandinavia House is centrally located, easily accessible and visually prominent. Major New York landmarks such as Grand Central Station and the New York Public Library are close by, along with institutions such as The Pierpont Morgan Library and the United Nations headquarters.
Many major corporations are in the area, as well as hotels and convenient transportation links.
The internationally known architect, James Stewart Polshek, was selected to design Scandinavia House after an extensive review of nineteen candidates. Mr. Polshek's experience with New York non-profit cultural, educational and scientific institutions, as well as his selection as a Fulbright Fellow at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, were important factors in his appointment. In New York, his current and past cultural projects include the Rose Center for Earth and Space at the American Museum of Natural History, the renovation and restoration of Carnegie Hall, and The Seamen's Church Institute building.