Architecture And Design

Brooklyn Bridge Park opens new Pier 1 pavilion and plaza

All photos courtesy of Brooklyn Bridge Park / Alexa Hoyer

April 9, 2025

Brooklyn Bridge Park opens new Pier 1 pavilion and plaza

By Aaron Ginsburg

Marking its 15th anniversary, Brooklyn Bridge Park debuted a scenic and accessible new gateway into the beloved waterfront park this week. Designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA) and Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, the new pavilion acts as a front porch to the rest of the 85-acre park, featuring lush landscaping and an elevated view of the East River and Manhattan. The pavilion and plaza's opening marks another chapter in the park's evolution, from its gritty industrial beginnings to becoming one of the city's most treasured public green spaces.
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NYC metro area could lose 80,000 homes to flooding by 2040

Credit: Marc A. Hermann / MTA on Flickr

April 7, 2025

NYC metro area could lose 80,000 homes to flooding by 2040

By Aaron Ginsburg

More than 80,000 homes in New York City’s low-lying neighborhoods and surrounding suburbs are at risk of being lost to flooding in the next 15 years, according to a new report. Released Monday by the Regional Plan Association (RPA), the report warns that the region's housing shortage could reach 1.2 million homes by 2040, as heightened flood risks render large portions of land across the five boroughs undevelopable. While Long Island is projected to face the most significant impact overall, waterfront neighborhoods in southeast Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island are among the most vulnerable.
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Barclays Center announces second phase of $100M renovation

Renderings courtesy of BSE Global

April 7, 2025

Barclays Center announces second phase of $100M renovation

By Devin Gannon

The Barclays Center will undergo several upgrades enhancing the fan experience. BSE Global, parent company of the arena, the Brooklyn Nets, and the New York Liberty, announced last week that the second phase of a five-year, $100 million renovation will add a membership club and a fan zone with unobstructed views and a bar. The work will begin at the end of the Nets' current season and be completed ahead of the start of the 2025-2026 NBA season.
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Architecture And Design

David Childs, architect behind One World Trade Center, dies at 83

(L) Credit: Silverstein Properties, (R) Credit: Phil Doby on Flickr

March 28, 2025

David Childs, architect behind One World Trade Center, dies at 83

By Aaron Ginsburg

Visionary architect David Childs, who helped redefine the New York City skyline with the design of One World Trade Center, passed away at 83 on Thursday. Childs, the only partner to serve two terms as chairman of the renowned architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), succumbed to Lewy body dementia, his wife Annie told the New York Times. Best known for his work on the Freedom Tower, Childs also contributed to several other transformative projects in Manhattan, including 35 Hudson Yards, the Time Warner Center, and 7 World Trade Center.
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New York Liberty unveil state-of-the-art $80M practice facility in Greenpoint

Renderings courtesy of New York Liberty

March 27, 2025

New York Liberty unveil state-of-the-art $80M practice facility in Greenpoint

By Devin Gannon

The New York Liberty's new practice facility is fit for champions. The reigning WNBA champs on Thursday unveiled plans for an $80 million state-of-the-art training building on the waterfront in Greenpoint. Designed by Populous, the design team behind the Sphere in Las Vegas, the 75,000-square-foot facility will be one of the few dedicated practice spaces for a WNBA team and the first to be designed with insight from players.
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Architecture And Design

Leasing launches at Williamsburg Wharf, from $3,500/month

All images courtesy of Naftali Group

March 25, 2025

Leasing launches at Williamsburg Wharf, from $3,500/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Brooklyn's latest waterfront development officially launched leasing for its luxury rentals. Designed by Brandon Haw Architecture, Williamsburg Wharf contains five 22-story residential buildings and 20,000 square feet of amenities along the East River in South Williamsburg. Two Williamsburg Wharf and Three Williamsburg Wharf include 334 apartments across the two towers, with pricing starting from $3,500/month for a studio.
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Proposed Freedom Plaza casino complex next to U.N. reveals waterfront public park

Renderings courtesy of OJB Landscape Architecture

March 21, 2025

Proposed Freedom Plaza casino complex next to U.N. reveals waterfront public park

By Aaron Ginsburg

Newly released renderings offer a closer look at a public waterfront park planned alongside a proposed casino complex near the United Nations. Unveiled on Thursday, the new video and imagery showcase the nearly 5-acre public park planned as part of Soloviev Group's proposed Freedom Plaza casino project. Designed by OJB Landscape Architects, the green space would feature an 18,000-square-foot central lawn, 1.2 miles of accessible pathways, a children's play area, an amphitheater, scenic overlooks, and more.
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350 Park Avenue supertall office tower officially enters public review

© DBOX for Foster + Partners

March 18, 2025

350 Park Avenue supertall office tower officially enters public review

By Aaron Ginsburg

A proposed 1,600-foot-tall office tower set to reshape the New York City skyline officially entered public review this week. The Department of City Planning on Monday certified an application for 350 Park Avenue, a proposed 62-story building in Midtown East led by Vornado Realty Trust, Citadel, and Rudin Management, kicking off the seven-month uniform land use review procedure (ULURP). Designed by Foster + Partners, the project—the first new office building presented to the City Planning Commission in five years—calls for 1.8 million square feet of office space and a new public concourse, with Ken Griffin's Citadel and Citadel Securities as anchor tenants.
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$8B Citi Field casino and park proposal gets zoning approval from NYC Council

Credit: SHoP Architects, Field Operations

March 14, 2025

$8B Citi Field casino and park proposal gets zoning approval from NYC Council

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen's $8 billion casino proposal near Citi Field cleared a major hurdle this week. On Tuesday, the City Council voted 41-2 in favor of zoning changes for the Metropolitan Park development, a sports and entertainment complex planned for 50 acres of parking lots around the Mets stadium. While the approval grants Cohen and his partners the ability to make zoning changes on the site, which sits on city parkland, the project still requires approval from several local and state officials.
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Central Park to open huge new rec center with pool and ice rink in April

Renderings courtesy of Susan T Rodriguez | Architecture • Design

March 12, 2025

Central Park to open huge new rec center with pool and ice rink in April

By Aaron Ginsburg

A transformative project set to reconnect the neighborhoods at Central Park’s northern edge to the Harlem Meer is slated to open next month. The new $160 million Davis Center will open on April 26, the Central Park Conservancy announced on Wednesday. The Davis Center replaces the aging Lasker Rink and Pool with a state-of-the-art facility featuring a pool in the summer, a winter ice skating rink, a paved boardwalk, public open space, and more. One of the most ambitious undertakings in the Conservancy's history, the project also transforms the surrounding landscape, improving park access for residents of the primarily low-income communities bordering the park to the north.
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Architecture And Design

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JetBlue’s flagship terminal at JFK Airport set for major NYC-themed makeover

Renderings courtesy of JetBlue

March 7, 2025

JetBlue’s flagship terminal at JFK Airport set for major NYC-themed makeover

By Aaron Ginsburg

Big changes are coming to JetBlue's flagship Terminal 5 at John F. Kennedy International Airport, which is set to undergo a major New York City-inspired makeover. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) on Thursday announced a major refresh of Terminal 5, which includes adding more than 40 new concessions, art installations, and a redesigned center concourse inspired by the city's parks. The first new concessions will open later this year, with the terminal improvements set for completion by the end of 2026.
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Architecture And Design

Former East Harlem college dorm and migrant shelter to become 433 affordable homes

Streetview of 1760 Third Avenue, Map data © 2024 Google

March 3, 2025

Former East Harlem college dorm and migrant shelter to become 433 affordable homes

By Aaron Ginsburg

A former college dormitory in East Harlem that also served as temporary shelter for migrants will become an affordable housing development. Gov. Kathy Hochul last week announced construction kicked off at 1760 Third Avenue, a 19-story building that once operated as student housing for CUNY and later housed hundreds of asylum seekers. Developed by Breaking Ground and designed by Dattener Architects, the project includes renovating and converting the building into 433 supportive and affordable homes, including 261 units reserved for individuals with mental illness. This marks the first supportive housing project funded under Hochul's landmark $1 billion mental health initiative.
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New Museum opening OMA-designed expansion this fall

Rendering of the expanded New Museum. All images courtesy of OMA/bloomimages.de

February 27, 2025

New Museum opening OMA-designed expansion this fall

By Aaron Ginsburg

The expansion of the New Museum will finally open its doors on the Lower East Side this fall. Designed by OMA's Shohei Shigematsu and Rem Koolhaas in collaboration with Cooper Robertson, the 60,000-square-foot, seven-story addition—the architecture firm's first public building in New York City—connects to the existing building, doubling its gallery space and improving visitor flow. The project includes a permanent home for the museum's cultural incubator NEW INC, a new outdoor plaza, and full-service restaurant.
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A first look inside the full-floor boutique offices at 520 Fifth Avenue

Credit: Binyan Studios

February 26, 2025

A first look inside the full-floor boutique offices at 520 Fifth Avenue

By Aaron Ginsburg

New renderings offer a sneak peek at the 25 full floors of boutique office space at 520 Fifth Avenue, the tallest mixed-use tower on the iconic street. Situated on floors nine through 34 below the condo units, the offices, designed by AD100 designer Vicky Charles of Charles & Co., feature terraces and loggias, soaring ceiling heights, and 10-by-10-foot operable windows. Above the offices are 100 luxury condos, which launched sales last April.
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This year’s NYBG Orchid Show brings the vibrancy of Mexican modernism to the Bronx

“The Orchid Show: Mexican Modernism.” All photos courtesy of the New York Botanical Garden

February 21, 2025

This year’s NYBG Orchid Show brings the vibrancy of Mexican modernism to the Bronx

By Aaron Ginsburg

The New York Botanical Garden’s beloved Orchid Show officially opened this weekend, bringing the bold colors of Mexican modernism to the Bronx. Inspired by the work of Mexican modernist architect Luis Barragán, "The Orchid Show: Mexican Modernism" turns the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory into a vibrant landscape of thousands of orchids, tropical plants, and succulents like cacti and agave. The breathtaking display is on view through April 27.
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See the $700M climate research hub coming to Governors Island

Illustrative renderings courtesy of The New York Climate Exchange and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

February 20, 2025

See the $700M climate research hub coming to Governors Island

By Devin Gannon

A state-of-the-art hub dedicated to climate change research is moving forward on Governors Island. Led by Stony Brook University, the New York Climate Exchange is a cross-sector, nonprofit group dedicated to research and developing solutions to the global climate crisis. The Exchange on Thursday released new renderings of the 400,000-square-foot campus designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) to include classrooms, laboratories, student and facility housing, new open space, and more. The Exchange also announced the selection of Skanska USA as the construction manager for the climate center, which is scheduled to break ground next year.
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The world’s tallest Passive House building is coming to Brooklyn

All renderings courtesy of Alloy Development

February 18, 2025

The world’s tallest Passive House building is coming to Brooklyn

By Devin Gannon

The world's tallest Passive House building, a design standard aimed at cutting carbon emissions, is coming to Brooklyn. Alloy Development on Tuesday unveiled One Third Avenue, a 63-story mixed-use tower with 583 apartments, retail, and office space. Designed to be highly efficient, the project will complete the Alloy Block, a $500 million five-building development in Downtown Brooklyn with over 1,000 homes, the city's first all-electric skyscraper, 60,000 square feet of office space, and two Passive House public schools.
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Relive monumental public art installation ‘The Gates’ in Central Park, 20 years later

Photo: Wolfgang Volz© 2005 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation

February 13, 2025

Relive monumental public art installation ‘The Gates’ in Central Park, 20 years later

By Aaron Ginsburg

"The Gates," the public art installation that took over Central Park with saffron-colored fabric panels for 16 days in 2005, is returning to New York City—virtually. To celebrate the installation's 20th anniversary, New Yorkers can relive the monumental artwork from Christo and Jeanne-Claude through an augmented reality experience on the Bloomberg Connects app. Plus, an exhibition now open at The Shed in Hudson Yards titled "Christo and Jeanne-Claude: The Gates and Unrealized Projects for New York City," explores the legacy of the artists and their work, as well as the journey behind bringing "The Gates" to life.
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1,600-foot-tall office tower 350 Park Avenue prepares to enter public review

350 Park Avenue © DBOX for Foster + Partners

February 7, 2025

1,600-foot-tall office tower 350 Park Avenue prepares to enter public review

By Aaron Ginsburg

A proposed supertall office tower in Midtown East is set to enter the public review process next month, according to a land use application filed with the city this week. Vornado Realty Trust, Citadel, and Rudin Management are looking to build a 1,600-foot-tall skyscraper at 350 Park Avenue. Set to replace three existing buildings, the fully electric tower will rise 62 stories and deliver 1.8 million square feet of office space and a new public concourse. Designed by Foster + Partners, Ken Griffin's Citadel and Citadel Securities would be the tower's anchor tenants, occupying at least 850,000 square feet.
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Architecture And Design

City launches program to bring public art installations to NYC streets and sidewalks

Photos courtesy of May Bukowski on Flickr

February 5, 2025

City launches program to bring public art installations to NYC streets and sidewalks

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's Department of Transportation is calling upon artists to help bring some vibrancy to city streets. DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Wednesday announced the launch of the NYC DOT Art Partners initiative, which invites community organizations to install temporary public art on the agency's property, including medians, triangles, sidewalks, and fully pedestrianized asphalt spaces. The agency issued a request for proposals, with submissions accepted on a rolling basis.
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City unveils design of new Hudson Square public plaza

Photo of existing Hudson-Houston Plaza by Tdorante10 on WikiCommons

February 4, 2025

City unveils design of new Hudson Square public plaza

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is moving forward with plans to turn part of a parking lot in Hudson Square into a new public plaza. The city's Parks Department, DEP, and the Hudson Square Business Improvement District this week unveiled the design for Hudson-Houston Plaza, a new 0.26-acre open space at the intersection of Hudson and Houston Streets that will provide a much-needed public area for the neighborhood while allowing for continued DEP operations below ground. The northern half of the city-owned site will become an affordable housing development, known as 388 Hudson Street.
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Architecture And Design

Fordham’s Lincoln Center sculpture garden debuts new exhibition, including iconic ‘Hippo Ballerina’

“The Magis Sculpture Exhibition” at Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus. All images courtesy of Taylor Ha, Fordham University

February 3, 2025

Fordham’s Lincoln Center sculpture garden debuts new exhibition, including iconic ‘Hippo Ballerina’

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's beloved hippo sculpture, and other whimsical works of art, can now be found at Fordham University's Lincoln Center campus. On display through December, "The Magis Sculpture Exhibition" adds 11 new pieces to the university's outdoor sculpture garden, between West 60th and West 62nd Streets. Inspired by fables, art history, music, modern animation, and more, the exhibition complements the garden's 10 sculptures on permanent display. A highlight of the new installation is Bjørn Okholm Skaarup’s "Hippo Ballerina"—a 15-foot hippo sculpture that draws inspiration from Edgar Degas’ "Little Dancer Aged Fourteen" and the dancing hippos from Walt Disney’s "Fantasia."
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The highest private pool in NYC unveiled at Rafael Viñoly’s 88-story FiDi condo

All photos courtesy of Evan Joseph unless otherwise noted

January 31, 2025

The highest private pool in NYC unveiled at Rafael Viñoly’s 88-story FiDi condo

By Aaron Ginsburg

Care for a sky-high swim? The highest private pool in New York City is now complete at a new 88-story condo tower in the Financial District. The Greenwich by Rafael Viñoly this week unveiled "The 88," a stunning amenities suite occupying the building's 86th, 87th, and 88th floors, considered the highest condo perk package in the city. Designed by acclaimed firm MAWD, the exclusive space offers residents a private members club experience, featuring wellness, entertainment, and fitness areas, including a 50-foot indoor lap pool, all complemented by luxurious furnishings from Molteni&C, Poltrona Frau, Boffi DePadova, and Poliform.
Luxury in the sky, ahead

The Frick announces April reopening date of Upper East Side mansion

The Frick Collection from East 70th Street; rendering courtesy of Selldorf Architects

January 28, 2025

The Frick announces April reopening date of Upper East Side mansion

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Frick Collection officially has a reopening date. The museum announced it will return to its historic Upper East Side home on April 17, following a five-year renovation of its mansion at 1 East 70th Street by Selldorf Architects and Beyer Blinder Belle. The project restored the original galleries, added new galleries to the second floor, expanded exhibition space, and revived the 70th Street garden. During the renovation, the Frick temporarily resided in the iconic Breuer Building from 2021 until March 2024.
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First look at Chinatown’s new 16-story jail

All images courtesy of Tutor Perini Corporation/HOK

January 28, 2025

First look at Chinatown’s new 16-story jail

By Aaron Ginsburg

With office buildings in New York City still feeling the effects of the pandemic, the sight of a new, imposing office tower going up in Chinatown may leave you scratching your head. However, this generic-looking glass tower is a new jail. As first spotted by NY1, Los Angeles-based architectural firm Tutor Perini and O&G Industries released a video showing the preliminary design of the new Manhattan Detention Center, a 16-story facility set to rise at 124-125 White Street as part of the city's plan to replace the Rikers Island complex with four borough-based jails.
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Architecture And Design

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