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The renovation of this under-utilized open space will establish a distinct gateway to the thriving hub of Hudson Square. The design derives its patterns and materiality from the area’s history as a printing district, while providing a variety of pathways, gathering areas, and seating to allow for diverse contemporary use of the site. Lush plantings provide a robust visual palette and permeable pavers and expanded tree pits enhance the overall health of the existing trees and capture stormwater runoff. A central focal point at the mid-block crossing will be anchored by the relocated statue of General José Artigas (1987) by José Luis Zorrilla de San Martín, which will be conserved as part of the project. This exemplary public-private partnership will create a pedestrian-friendly environment and improve the quality of life for the people who live and work in Hudson Square.

This understated yet elegant addition will provide critical support spaces for the Snug Harbor Music Hall, which was completed in 1892 and is the second oldest theater in New York City. The new structure is nested carefully between two of the original pilasters on the east façade of the historic building. Modest in scale, with one floor below grade, the design achieves a sense of presence through formal expression – deep overhangs at the entrances recall the portico of the Music Hall – and materials such as white board-formed textured concrete, glass, and steel. The highly transparent façade brings unexpected natural light to back-of-house spaces that are typically dim, and the fully-glazed southeast corner offers views to an interior artwork, commissioned through the City’s Percent for Art program. Outside the public entrance to the building, a landscaped courtyard and lawn provides flexible space for the Music Hall and Snug Harbor campus. This project will reinvigorate the historic theater, enhancing programmatic opportunities and operational efficiency that enable this cultural gem to put on its distinctive performances.  

The last segments of the High Line to open to the public, the Passage and Spur will become the northern gateway to this internationally loved elevated promenade. The Passage weaves through Hudson Yards’ south tower, which cantilevers 60 feet above the High Line. To celebrate this cathedral-like space, the design remains open and minimal, with seating along the north edge and planting, social spaces, and balconies at the southern edge. The transition from the Passage to the Spur features a densely vegetated threshold of sloped planting beds. Here, a distinctive mix of large woodland trees will establish a dramatic 40-foot-tall canopy of lush greenery with an understory of ferns, broad-leaf groundcovers, and perennials. Perched above 10th Avenue and 30th Street, the Spur is envisioned as a piazza with amphitheater-like seating steps that surround a central plinth for a rotating art program. The Passage and Spur will offer expansive views, dense woodland plantings, ample public seating, and a large open space for public programming, as well as public bathrooms for High Line visitors. This project marks the culmination of nearly 20 years of work toward the transformation of this former rail line into a public treasure.

Aligning with the sustainable goals of OneNYC, these anti-idling pedestals will reduce ambulance vehicle emissions without disrupting the Fire Department’s critical emergency operations. By plugging in to these curbside pedestals, EMTs can safely shut off their engines while keeping their communication systems live and temperature-sensitive medicines refrigerated. The anti-idling pedestal’s steel trapezoidal form efficiently accommodates the interior electrical components to minimize the structure’s footprint. At the top of the pedestal, a back-lit perforated pattern acts as a beacon and indicates the functioning status of the pedestal. A circular, LED-lit polycarbonate access door is remotely activated by the user and opens to reveal the plug-in cable, which retracts automatically after use, allowing for a quick ambulance departure. This smart industrial design improves neighborhood air quality and ensures that the City’s ambulances are ready to respond to emergencies at a moment’s notice. 

Nestled between the edge of a residential neighborhood and the working industrial waterfront of Staten Island’s north shore, this deteriorated site will be transformed into an attractive community asset with a pier that provides expansive views to the Kill van Kull and the Bayonne Bridge. The entrance plaza at Richmond Terrace incorporates wooden guard rails, new lighting, benches, and bike racks and connects to a path threading through a woodland area. A short walk leads visitors to a gathering space that can be programmed for educational use and features engraved maps that describe the evolution of the island in relation to the waterway. Durable materials such as stone paving and concrete piles are utilized to withstand flooding, while woody understory and herbaceous planting in the wetland park increase shoreline resilience. The design prioritizes public access to the waterfront while preserving the wetlands and enhancing avian habitat.

Dock 72 embraces rapidly emerging technological and creative industries in Brooklyn with a work environment that encourages and enables hundreds of new and maturing creative startups to flourish. The building’s design celebrates the maritime and industrial history of the Brooklyn Navy Yard while providing 21st-century shared work spaces that allow tenants to contribute to the Yard’s renewed life as a growing industrial hub. V-shaped columns lift the ship-like structure above the floodplain and form dual water and land access. The massing of the building steps down toward Wallabout Bay creating terraces with views of the surrounding Navy Yard, the East River, and Manhattan. Paths trace through the gridded façade, suggesting ant farm-like communal spaces and activities within. The building’s open and flexible work environments encourage the interaction of people and foster the sharing of ideas, both of which are critical to development of innovative creative communities. Creating 4,000 living-wage jobs, this development is a key effort of the de Blasio administration’s plan to double employment at the Navy Yard by 2020.

The second and third phases of the Waterfront Nature Walk, currently under way, extend the promenade over Whale Creek to create a continuous walkway that connects to the street grid on either side of the plant. These phases also expand the artist’s conceptual focus from the local histories to ruminations on a broader history of ecology and human existence. The artist imbues public amenities such as bridged walkways, shade structures, benches, and drinking fountains with thought-provoking language, materials, and historical artifacts, notably the 385-million-year-old tree fossils unearthed at the Gilboa Dam in Schoharie County.  

LinkNYC is a new telecommunications network replacing old payphones with “Links” that benefit the public – especially those of limited means – by offering free services such as high-speed Wi-Fi, mobile device charging, and a custom-built tablet that enables free telephone calls within the United States and provides access to City information and services in addition to wayfinding capability. With a slim profile and durable materiality, the “Links” fit seamlessly into the city’s diverse neighborhoods and streetscapes. The silver and black streamlined design is intended to complement the prototypical newsstands, bus shelters, and wayfinding signs throughout the city yet retain a distinct, easily-recognizable form. In an effort to decrease susceptibility to flooding damage, the main electrical components are situated high up within the kiosk. The resulting design is user-friendly, ADA compliant, and strong enough to stand up to life in New York City.