Architecture And Design

Artist Felipe Pantone’s biggest mural yet dazzles the Jersey City skyline

Photos courtesy of FPStudio

May 9, 2024

Artist Felipe Pantone’s biggest mural yet dazzles the Jersey City skyline

Renowned Argentinian artist Felipe Pantone's largest installation yet brings a burst of vibrancy to Jersey City. "OPTICHROMIE for Jersey City" covers 25 floors of a residential building in Journal Square with a dazzling digitized-style gradient mural of geometric patterns. The towering artwork contrasts the darker tones seen in the background of the Manhattan skyline and the mural's bold colors.
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Architecture And Design

Downtown Brooklyn’s Abolitionist Place park is now open

All photos courtesy of Downtown Brooklyn Partnership

May 8, 2024

Downtown Brooklyn’s Abolitionist Place park is now open

By Aaron Ginsburg

First promised 20 years ago, a Downtown Brooklyn park commemorating the borough's abolitionist history is finally open. City officials on Wednesday cut the ribbon on the 1.15-acre Abolitionist Place, located at 225 Duffield Street. Designed by landscape architecture firm Hargreaves Jones, the park offers a playground, a water play feature, a central lawn, a paved area with boulders, seating, and a dog run. The green space was part of the 2004 upzoning of Downtown Brooklyn and planning officially began in 2010. Financial issues and design changes delayed the project several times.
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Architecture And Design

The historic Bronx Post Office is for sale again

All photos courtesy of Avison Young

May 7, 2024

The historic Bronx Post Office is for sale again

By Devin Gannon

One of the most iconic buildings in the Bronx is for sale again. The Bronx General Post Office at 558 Grand Concourse is looking for a buyer five years after a deal to buy the landmark fell through. Developer Young Woo & Associates purchased the property from the United States Postal Service in 2014 with plans to revitalize the 90-year-old building and transform it into a mixed-use development with a food market. After a sale failed in 2019, the property has returned to the market, advertised as having the potential to become residential or a hotel with retail space.
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NYC breaks ground on $200M project to rebuild and elevate The Battery

Image courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

May 7, 2024

NYC breaks ground on $200M project to rebuild and elevate The Battery

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City officials this week broke ground on an ambitious project to defend Lower Manhattan from climate change. Mayor Eric Adams on Monday announced the start of work on the city-funded Battery Coastal Resilience Project, a $200 million plan to rebuild and raise the wharf promenade in The Battery, part of a larger effort to protect Lower Manhattan from sea level rise and storm surge. Slated for completion in 2026, the project will protect 100,000 residents, 300,000 jobs, and 12,000 businesses in the area, according to the city.
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Original Domino Sugar Factory sign reimagined as a lobby sculpture

Photo courtesy of Etienne Frossard

May 6, 2024

Original Domino Sugar Factory sign reimagined as a lobby sculpture

By Aaron Ginsburg

Williamsburg's original Domino Sugar Factory sign has been given new life as an art installation. Two Trees Management last week unveiled "Untitled (reverse virgule)," which repurposes the iconic yellow Domino Sugar Factory sign into an 11-foot by 36-foot wall sculpture. Created by artist Virginia Overton, the piece sits in the lobby of the Refinery at Domino, a new office building that opened last year within the historic sugar factory building.
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Architecture And Design

Iconic bridge views and remarkable light: Inside Annabelle Selldorf’s condo One Domino Square

All photos courtesy of William Jess Laird

May 2, 2024

Iconic bridge views and remarkable light: Inside Annabelle Selldorf’s condo One Domino Square

By Devin Gannon

Architect Annabelle Selldorf's first residential tower, One Domino Square, features a striking iridescent porcelain tile facade that shifts the appearance of the skyscraper, allowing it to simultaneously stand out and blend in with its Williamsburg surroundings, depending on the light. Following the launch of sales for the building's 160 condos last month, new images provide a look inside the residences, which flaunt stunning bridge and skyline views, airy open floorplans, and an abundance of natural light.
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35-acre nature preserve opens in the Rockaways at NYC’s first net-zero community

Photo courtesy of Francine Fleischer

April 26, 2024

35-acre nature preserve opens in the Rockaways at NYC’s first net-zero community

By Devin Gannon

New York City this week opened a public nature preserve in Far Rockaway that serves as the centerpiece of a new sustainable mixed-use project. The 35-acre natural area marks the first phase of Arverne East, a development transforming a vacant 116-acre oceanfront site into a community with 1,650 homes, retail, and open space. The nearly $1 billion project will produce more energy than it consumes, through passive house construction and a district geothermal system, making it the city's first net-zero community.
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Architecture And Design

April 22, 2024

Petite but posh: Interior designers share their favorite small-space makeovers

By Lidia Ryan

New York City apartments are small. It’s just a fact of life that in a city that crams over 8 million people into 300 square miles, there will be some space challenges. From using the oven for storage a la Carrie Bradshaw to turning hallways and closets into bedrooms, most New Yorkers know how to get creative in their living spaces. But as New Yorkers graduate to more “grown up” apartments, the space-saving hacks should get more sophisticated too. Interior designers based in New York, San Francisco (our cramped sister city to the west), and nationwide share how they made tight spaces shine in elegant homes.
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See ODA’s curving, connected residential buildings rising in Williamsburg

Renderings courtesy of Secchi Smith

April 16, 2024

See ODA’s curving, connected residential buildings rising in Williamsburg

By Aaron Ginsburg

Renderings released this week show off a new full-block residential development coming to Williamsburg. Designed by architecture firm ODA, the project includes the Lorimer House, a 270-unit rental, and Copper Lofts, a "boutique collection" of 66 residences, connected by an elevated bridge, creating the illusion of one cohesive development. Taking advantage of their corner location in Broadway Triangle, the eight-story buildings feature a curving facade marked with alternating balconies and recessed terraces. Construction is expected to wrap up this spring.
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Vornado reveals new renderings for 62-story office tower at 350 Park Avenue

By Aaron Ginsburg

A supertall office tower long planned for Midtown is finally moving forward. During a breakfast held by the Association for a Better New York, Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday revealed new details and renderings for 350 Park Avenue, a 62-story building developed by Vornado Realty Trust, Citadel, and Rudin Management. Designed by Foster + Partners, the tower, which will bring 1.8 million square feet of office space and a new public concourse to Midtown East, will enter the city's public review process early next year.
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Architecture And Design

One Madison Avenue unveils lush rooftop garden and stylish steakhouse by Daniel Boulud

One Madison Avenue Rooftop Exterior. Courtesy of SL Green, by Neoscape

April 10, 2024

One Madison Avenue unveils lush rooftop garden and stylish steakhouse by Daniel Boulud

By Devin Gannon

An office tower in Midtown is luring tenants with food and lush outdoor space. SL Green this week unveiled plans for a steakhouse by Chef Daniel Boulud at One Madison Avenue, an adaptive-reuse commercial building facing Madison Square Park. In addition to La Tête d’Or by Daniel, the first-ever steakhouse from the French chef, the tower will feature a sprawling event and rooftop space designed by David Rockwell and catered by Boulud.
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Renovation of Eero Saarinen’s modernist Midtown skyscraper is complete

Photos courtesy of Colin Miller

April 9, 2024

Renovation of Eero Saarinen’s modernist Midtown skyscraper is complete

By Devin Gannon

One of New York City's most iconic modernist skyscrapers has been revitalized for a new era. Designed by renowned 20th-century architect Eero Saarinen, the 38-story Midtown Manhattan office building 51W52, also known as the CBS Building, received a $128 million renovation by Harbor Group International (HGI), which acquired the building from CBS owner Paramount in 2021. HGI says the upgrades, which includes an updated lobby and lounge, conference center, and cafe, have helped the building see 350,000 square feet in new leases and renewals after an increase in vacancies last year.
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Architecture And Design

Historic Crown Heights school is now a 40-unit luxury rental

Rendering courtesy of PKSB Architects

April 4, 2024

Historic Crown Heights school is now a 40-unit luxury rental

By Aaron Ginsburg

A former Catholic school in Crown Heights is now a 40-unit rental building. The Gregory at 991 St. John's Place sits within the St. Gregory the Great Roman Catholic Church complex, designed by Frank J. Helmle and Harvey Wiley Corbett in the 1920s. GEMA Capital Partners and PKSB Architects oversaw the conversion of the historic schoolhouse into a multi-family rental. Leasing has kicked off for the project's mix of studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes, starting at $3,437/month.
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See inside the Brooklyn Paramount as historic theater reopens after 60 years

Image courtesy of Evan Joseph

April 1, 2024

See inside the Brooklyn Paramount as historic theater reopens after 60 years

By Aaron Ginsburg

Fort Greene's historic Brooklyn Paramount Theater, which once hosted legendary artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Duke Ellington, reopened last week for its first season in 60 years. A multi-million dollar restoration modernized the venue while preserving its opulent latticework ceiling, hand-crafted statues, and other Baroque features. For its first show in six decades, the Paramount hosted brothers Damian and Stephen Marley, who performed at the theater during their co-headlining Traffic Jam Tour.
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$24M revamp of Lower East Side’s Nuyorican Poets Café is underway

Renderings courtesy of the NYC DCLA

March 29, 2024

$24M revamp of Lower East Side’s Nuyorican Poets Café is underway

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Nuyorican Poets Café, a beloved performance space on the Lower East Side for half a century, is undergoing a $24.1 million transformation. The city's Department of Cultural Affairs and the Department of Design and Construction on Thursday kicked off the project, which will renovate and expand the cultural institution's lobby, add new performance spaces and offices, improve accessibility, and perform extensive repairs on the building's exterior. Designed by Rice+Lipka Architects, the reconstruction project is slated for completion in spring 2026.
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Architecture And Design

The Ellis Island Museum to be ‘reimagined’ in $100M makeover

Baggage Room Rendering. Courtesy of Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation

March 28, 2024

The Ellis Island Museum to be ‘reimagined’ in $100M makeover

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's Ellis Island Museum is getting a $100 million makeover. The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation on Thursday announced a revitalization project to upgrade the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration and reimagine it for the 21st century by improving exhibits, preserving its 19th-century landmarked building, and offering a more immersive experience with stories of the 12 million immigrants who arrived in the country via Ellis Island. The project, slated for completion in 2026, will also expand the museum's Records Discovery Center, allowing millions more to trace their heritage.
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New block-long Boerum Hill condo to offer sun-drenched units with outdoor space, from $700K

Renderings courtesy of DARCSTUDIO

March 20, 2024

New block-long Boerum Hill condo to offer sun-drenched units with outdoor space, from $700K

By Devin Gannon

Stretching nearly a block on Bergen Street in Boerum Hill, this new condo was designed to maximize natural sunlight. Rising seven stories between 3rd and 4th Avenues, just south of the Barclays Center, the residential project, dubbed Bergen, was designed by Mexico-based architecture studio Taller Frida Escobedo to complement the brownstone-filled neighborhood. New images and details of the development were released this week ahead of an upcoming spring sales launch.
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Port Authority seeks local, minority vendors for JFK Airport’s new $9.5B terminal

Renderings courtesy of the Port Authority of NY and NJ

March 19, 2024

Port Authority seeks local, minority vendors for JFK Airport’s new $9.5B terminal

By Aaron Ginsburg

John F. Kennedy International Airport is searching for vendors to fulfill its vision for its new international terminal. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), The New Terminal One (NTO), and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) Airports on Monday announced the launch of the commercial program for JFK Airport’s $9.5 billion all-international terminal opening in 2026. The retail spaces at the terminal will offer "beloved NYC favorites, global powerhouse brands, engaging guest experiences, and thoughtful amenities under one spectacular roof," according to a press release.
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Taconic unveils plans to build 28-story office tower in Hudson Square

Renderings courtesy of Taconic Partners

March 15, 2024

Taconic unveils plans to build 28-story office tower in Hudson Square

By Aaron Ginsburg

Taconic Partners and Nuveen Real Estate on Wednesday unveiled new renderings of One Grand, a new 28-story office tower in Hudson Square designed by renowned architecture firm SHoP Architects. Located on the corner of Grand and Varick Streets where the neighborhoods of Soho, Hudson Square, and Tribeca intersect, the building will serve as a state-of-the-art headquarters, offering 430,763 square feet of rentable space, 20,040 square feet of outdoor space, and a public school on the ground floor, according to The Real Deal.
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A mini forest is coming to Roosevelt Island

Images courtesy of SUGi

March 13, 2024

A mini forest is coming to Roosevelt Island

By Aaron Ginsburg

A mini forest that can prevent flooding during storms and build biodiversity is coming to Roosevelt Island. Conceived by global platform SUGi, the Manhattan Healing Forest will consist of 1,000 native trees, shrubs, and plants and measure just 2,700 square feet in Roosevelt Island’s Southpoint Park. The so-called "pocket forest" will be “strategically positioned to stabilize the land,” capture water, provide a habitat for wildlife, and serve as a “living barrier” against flooding and erosion.
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Architecture And Design

Harlem’s historic Victoria Theater reopens following decade-long restoration

Photo courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

March 8, 2024

Harlem’s historic Victoria Theater reopens following decade-long restoration

By Aaron Ginsburg

Harlem’s historic Victoria Theater has reopened following a decade-long restoration project, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday. The renovation added two flexible performance spaces, offices, and gallery spaces to the Victoria, which opened in 1917 as a vaudeville theater. The 27,000-square-foot facility will be operated by the iconic Apollo Theater, marking the first expansion of the cultural institution in its 90-year history. The Apollo Stages at The Victoria is part of a broader redevelopment project that includes a 28-story hotel, restaurant, and a residential building with nearly 200 apartments.
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120-year-old Carnegie library in the Bronx is now a city landmark

NYPL’s Tremont Branch. Photo courtesy of NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission

March 5, 2024

120-year-old Carnegie library in the Bronx is now a city landmark

By Aaron Ginsburg

A Bronx public library that has served as a vital community space for more than a century is New York City's newest landmark. The Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) on Tuesday voted to designate the New York Public Library's Tremont Branch as an individual landmark. Constructed in 1905, the library at 1866 Washington Avenue was financed by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and designed by acclaimed firm Carrère and Hastings, the architects behind the library's iconic main branch at 42nd Street and 5th Avenue. The library is regarded for its significance as a critical space for the neighborhood, in addition to its architectural importance, according to the LPC.
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Lincoln Center taps design team to make Amsterdam Ave side of campus accessible ‘performance park’

Along 62nd Street looking north toward Damrosch Park. Photo by Lawrence Sumulong.

March 4, 2024

Lincoln Center taps design team to make Amsterdam Ave side of campus accessible ‘performance park’

By Devin Gannon

A plan to transform the west side of the Lincoln Center campus into a publicly accessible space for performance and play is moving forward. The Lincoln Center for Performing Arts (LCPA) on Monday announced a design team made up of Hood Design Studio, Weiss/Manfredi, and Moody Nolan will reimagine the Amsterdam Avenue-facing side, starting with turning Damrosch Park into a state-of-the-art outdoor "performance park."
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