Architecture And Design

NYC wants your feedback on Park Avenue redesign

Photo by Leslie Cross via Unsplash

April 29, 2026

NYC wants your feedback on Park Avenue redesign

By Aaron Ginsburg

The proposed redesign of Park Avenue could bring back lush green spaces to the iconic corridor's medians. The city's Department of Transportation (DOT) unveiled two potential plans to overhaul an 11-block stretch from East 46th to East 57th Streets, both of which would widen the medians and remove one traffic lane in each direction to create pedestrian space. Renderings released on Wednesday show expanded sidewalks, additional trees, benches, and bike lanes in one of the proposals. To gain feedback from New Yorkers, DOT released an online survey seeking public feedback for both design concepts.
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Colossal Buddha sculpture opens on the High Line

Tuan Andrew Nguyen, The Light That Shines Through the Universe, 2026. A High Line Plinth commission. On view April 2026 – Fall 2027. Photo by Timothy Schenck. Courtesy of the High Line.

April 28, 2026

Colossal Buddha sculpture opens on the High Line

By Aaron Ginsburg

A 27-foot-tall recreation of a Buddha statue destroyed by the Taliban 25 years ago now towers over 10th Avenue from the High Line. The High Line installed Tuan Andrew Nguyen's "The Light That Shines Through the Universe" last week above the intersection of 10th Avenue and 30th Street as part of its Plinth program. Carved in Vietnam, the sandstone sculpture recreates one of the Bamiyan Buddha statues destroyed in Afghanistan in 2001 and serves as a monument to cultural loss and resilience. The commission, which replaces the popular giant pigeon sculpture "Dinosaur," will be on view for 18 months.
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7 green infrastructure projects shaping NYC’s climate future

April 22, 2026

7 green infrastructure projects shaping NYC’s climate future

By Aaron Ginsburg

As New York City deals with rising sea levels, heavier rainfall, and aging infrastructure, officials are increasingly confronting a future that will be wetter and more climate-vulnerable. Efforts are underway to improve the resilience of the city against extreme weather driven by climate change while expanding greener and more accessible public spaces. These efforts come as President Donald Trump's administration continues to cancel or freeze funding for programs that address climate change, including $325 million in disaster prevention funds for New York. In honor of Earth Day, we've put together a list of seven major green infrastructure projects that are working toward a safe and sustainable future for New Yorkers.
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NYC opens accessible pedestrian ramp connecting Bronx Park and New York Botanical Garden

Images courtesy of NYC Parks / Daniel Avila

April 15, 2026

NYC opens accessible pedestrian ramp connecting Bronx Park and New York Botanical Garden

By Aaron Ginsburg

Bronx residents will have easier access to the New York Botanical Garden thanks to a new pedestrian access ramp that opened Monday. The $4 million project transformed the pedestrian overpass over the Bronx River Parkway, long plagued by safety and accessibility issues, into a fully ADA-compliant ramp with handrails, landings, and stairs. The new walkway ensures visitors of all ages and abilities can safely access the garden.
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Architecture And Design

Lincoln Center unveils new mural honoring San Juan Hill ahead of major renovation

Photos of mural courtesy of Lawrence Sumulong. Renderings of Damrosch Park courtesy of Brooklyn Digital Foundry.

April 14, 2026

Lincoln Center unveils new mural honoring San Juan Hill ahead of major renovation

By Aaron Ginsburg

A colorful mural opened at Lincoln Center on Monday, part of an ongoing effort to transform its western edge into a more welcoming public space. Designed by artist Vanesa Álvarez and assistant artist Derval Fairweather in collaboration with ArtBridge, "The Future We Create" draws on themes and imagery shaped by community input. The mural is installed on construction fencing along the perimeter of Damrosch Park, where Lincoln Center plans to remove longstanding barriers separating its campus from Amsterdam Avenue and improve access to surrounding neighborhoods.
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Architecture And Design

Jersey City’s historic Loew’s Theatre to reopen this fall after $130M restoration

View from the Lower Mezzanine Level. Credit: VStudio

April 10, 2026

Jersey City’s historic Loew’s Theatre to reopen this fall after $130M restoration

By Aaron Ginsburg

A Jersey City icon will reopen its doors this year. Loew's Jersey Theatre announced this week that the historic venue will return this fall, following a $130 million restoration. New renderings provide an updated look at the 1929 theater's transformation into a year-round entertainment destination in Journal Square, more than 40 years after preservation efforts began. Led by OTJ Architects, the project rehabilitates and modernizes the space while retaining its ornate historical details, with upgrades that include new sound and lighting systems and flexible seating for between 2,600 and 4,000 guests.
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Architecture And Design

Three buildings linked to New York City’s immigrant history designated as landmarks

All photos courtesy of the Landmarks Preservation Commission

April 8, 2026

Three buildings linked to New York City’s immigrant history designated as landmarks

By Aaron Ginsburg

Three buildings in New York City with long histories of serving immigrant communities have been designated as individual landmarks. On Tuesday, the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) voted to designate Public School 15 Annex in Downtown Brooklyn, the Church of Saint Mary on the Lower East Side, and the Lithuanian Alliance Building in Midtown as landmarks, citing their "value as part of the development, heritage, and cultural characteristics" of the city. The designations come amid a heightened crackdown on immigration under the Trump administration.
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New look at Fifth Avenue’s tallest residential tower, 262 Fifth Ave

Renderings courtesy of Hayes Davidson

April 2, 2026

New look at Fifth Avenue’s tallest residential tower, 262 Fifth Ave

By Aaron Ginsburg

New renderings of Fifth Avenue's tallest residential building were released this week as sales kick off at the condominium. Developed by Five Points Development and designed by Meganom, 262 Fifth Avenue is a 52-story tower in Nomad with only 26 full-floor and duplex residences. In addition to new images, the developer launched a teaser website for the building and announced a new sales team from Sotheby's International Realty.
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Rolex to open 30-story David Chipperfield-designed office tower on Fifth Avenue this fall

Images courtesy of Rolex

March 30, 2026

Rolex to open 30-story David Chipperfield-designed office tower on Fifth Avenue this fall

By Aaron Ginsburg

Rolex on Monday announced its new 30-story flagship at 665 Fifth Avenue will open this fall. Inspired by the watch brand's signature fluted bezel, the building, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Sir David Chipperfield, will feature a stacked facade with four terraces at each step-back. The 165,000-square-foot building will include a multi-level Rolex retail space, topped by office floors and additional retail tenants, along with amenities such as a restaurant and event space.
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NYC’s first pro soccer stadium tops out in Queens

All images courtesy of NYCFC, unless noted otherwise

March 27, 2026

NYC’s first pro soccer stadium tops out in Queens

By Aaron Ginsburg

Etihad Park, New York City's first-ever professional soccer stadium in Queens, topped out this week. The NYC Football Club (NYCFC) laid the final steel beam on Wednesday, completing the 25,000-seat stadium’s frame on schedule after construction began in December 2024. Developed by NYCFC, Related Companies, and Sterling Equities and designed by HOK, the seven-story, fully electric stadium is expected to open for the 2027–28 Major League Soccer season as NYCFC’s official home in the five boroughs.
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New community space opens at Wagner Park Pavilion in Battery Park City

Images courtesy of Battery Park City Authority

March 24, 2026

New community space opens at Wagner Park Pavilion in Battery Park City

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new community space with sweeping views of New York Harbor opened Monday at the Pavilion in Battery Park City’s Wagner Park. Dubbed "The Classroom," the 1,200-square-foot space is designed for public engagements, private rentals, catered events, and business meetings. The addition marks the latest phase of Wagner Park Pavilion’s revitalization, following a two-year overhaul that included reopening the park in July, after elevating it by 10 feet and incorporating hidden flood protection measures as part of a nearly $300 million project.
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Architecture And Design

New Museum opens OMA-designed expansion

Photo: Jason Keen. All images courtesy New Museum.

March 20, 2026

New Museum opens OMA-designed expansion

By Aaron Ginsburg

After two years, the New Museum will reopen its doors this weekend, as its long-awaited $82 million expansion is finally complete. The seven-story, 60,000-square-foot addition, designed by OMA’s Shohei Shigematsu and Rem Koolhaas in collaboration with Cooper Robertson, one of the few projects combining the work of two living Pritzker Prize-winning architects, opens to the public on Saturday, March 21. Seamlessly combining with the existing SANAA-designed flagship on the Bowery at Prince Street, the project doubles the New Museum's gallery space, adds a permanent home for its cultural incubator NEW INC, and introduces a new outdoor plaza and a 100-seat all-day cafe and restaurant.
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24-story rental tower above historic Fort Greene church approved by Landmarks

144 Saint Felix, view looking up from the south. All images courtesy of FXCollaborative.

March 19, 2026

24-story rental tower above historic Fort Greene church approved by Landmarks

By Aaron Ginsburg

After revising their original proposal, developers won Landmarks Preservation Commission approval Tuesday to build an apartment building on top of a historic Fort Greene church. Developer Stretke, along with architects FXCollaborative and ADP Architects, got the green light for the project at 144 St. Felix Street, which will restore the facade of the landmarked Hanson Place Central United Methodist Church and construct a 24-story tower above it. The developers were asked to address concerns about the building’s height and massing, which the local community board and residents called “inappropriate” for the site and the surrounding Brooklyn Academy of Music Historic District. The revised proposal lowered the height by about 30 feet, from 27 stories to 24 stories.
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$37.5M restoration of Prospect Park’s Vale begins

Prospect Park Vale Pollinator Meadow + Arbor. All images courtesy of the Prospect Park Alliance.

March 17, 2026

$37.5M restoration of Prospect Park’s Vale begins

By Aaron Ginsburg

Work to restore Prospect Park’s Vale of Cashmere, a once-scenic area in the northeast corner of the park that has fallen into disrepair, kicked off on Monday. Led by the Prospect Park Alliance, NYC Parks, and the city's Economic Development Corporation, the $37.5 million project will transform eight acres of the Vale in its first major restoration in more than 50 years, revitalizing the historic Children’s Pool and former rose garden and adding new amenities, including a pollinator garden, a planted arbor, and a wooden pavilion. Using funds allocated by former Mayor Bill de Blasio, the project is the largest single capital investment in Prospect Park since Lakeside in 2010. The restoration is expected to be completed in 2027.
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Architecture And Design

Former Jehovah’s Witnesses Watchtower complex could become 600+ apartments

Renderings courtesy of CIM Group

March 12, 2026

Former Jehovah’s Witnesses Watchtower complex could become 600+ apartments

By Aaron Ginsburg

Brooklyn Heights’ iconic Watchtower Building, the longtime world headquarters of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, may soon be transformed into a waterfront development with hundreds of homes. Developer CIM Group is proposing a mixed-use redevelopment at 25-30 Columbia Heights that would include 661 apartments, some of them affordable, along with 113,000 square feet of commercial space. The project is expected to enter the city's uniform land use review procedure (ULURP). CIM presented the plan to Brooklyn Community Board 2 last June before filing a land-use application in December, according to city records.
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30-foot surrealist steel sculptures arrive in two Manhattan neighborhoods

Chasing Rainbows, 2026, by Charlotte Colbert. Artwork © Charlotte Colbert, 2025. Photo © Timothy Schenck. Curated by New Public

March 10, 2026

30-foot surrealist steel sculptures arrive in two Manhattan neighborhoods

By Aaron Ginsburg

Two massive steel sculptures debuted Tuesday in Flatiron and the Meatpacking District, bringing surrealism into dialogue with the skyscrapers of Manhattan. Created by New York-born artist and filmmaker Charlotte Colbert, "Chasing Rainbows" features two 30-foot-tall surrealist sculptures in the bustling Flatiron South Plaza and 14th Street Square, inviting passersby to reconnect with their imagination in public spaces. On view through May 27, the installation marks Colbert’s first U.S. public art installation and represents the city’s first dual-neighborhood public art collaboration.
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Architecture And Design

NYC to revamp six more blocks of Broadway by 2031

Credit: Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

March 3, 2026

NYC to revamp six more blocks of Broadway by 2031

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is pressing ahead with its transformation of Broadway into a pedestrian-focused corridor, with plans to redesign six additional blocks by 2031. According to a Department of Transportation (DOT) presentation to Manhattan Community Board 5 last month, the $156 million expansion will upgrade Broadway between 21st and 27th Streets with permanent concrete plazas, widened sidewalks, and improved bike lanes. The project builds on the city’s broader "Broadway Vision" initiative, launched in March 2023 to improve safety and reduce vehicle traffic along the heavily traveled corridor.
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Historic Hunterfly Road Houses in Weeksville reopen after $4M renovation

Credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

March 2, 2026

Historic Hunterfly Road Houses in Weeksville reopen after $4M renovation

By Aaron Ginsburg

Four wood-frame homes built in the 19th century as part of one of the nation's largest free Black communities before the Civil War have been restored. The Hunterfly Road Houses at the Weeksville Heritage Center in Brooklyn reopened last week after undergoing a $4 million renovation, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on Friday. Last month, the center also received $1.2 million in state funding to maintain the historic homes, support staff and daily tours, and expand literacy and community programs.
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American Express unveils new World Trade Center headquarters

Renderings courtesy of Foster + Partners

February 25, 2026

American Express unveils new World Trade Center headquarters

By Aaron Ginsburg

American Express on Wednesday announced plans to build a new global headquarters at the World Trade Center, marking the final commercial tower at the Lower Manhattan campus. Located at 200 Greenwich Street, also known as 2 World Trade Center, the Foster + Partners-designed skyscraper will be developed by Silverstein Properties and span nearly 2 million square feet across 55 floors. Construction will kick off this spring, with completion slated for 2031. American Express will be the tower’s sole tenant, housing up to 10,000 employees and featuring more than an acre of outdoor space.
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Architecture And Design

The Met to host first show dedicated to Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner

Jackson Pollock (American, 1912–1956), Autumn Rhythm (Number 30), 1950, Enamel on canvas, 8 ft. 9 in. × 17 ft. 3 in. (266.7 × 525.8 cm), The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, George A. Hearn Fund, 1957, © 2026 Pollock-Krasner Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

February 24, 2026

The Met to host first show dedicated to Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner

By Aaron Ginsburg

The largest exhibition celebrating abstract expressionist artists and life partners Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner in two decades will open at the Metropolitan Museum of Art this fall. On view from October 4 through January 31, 2027, "Krasner and Pollock: Past Continuous" traces the full arc of both artists' careers, highlights their impact on modern art, and introduces their work to a new generation. The exhibition—the first at the Met to feature both artists—will display over 120 works borrowed from more than 80 U.S. and international lenders.
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Tin Building food hall closes, to be replaced by ‘Balloon Museum’

Credit: Seaport Entertainment Group

February 24, 2026

Tin Building food hall closes, to be replaced by ‘Balloon Museum’

By Aaron Ginsburg

Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s market and food hall at the Seaport's Tin Building closed its doors on Monday, not even four years after opening. The Seaport Entertainment Group (SEG) announced the high-end culinary hub will be replaced by "Balloon Museum," an interactive art installation expected to open this summer. The move marks the end of the $200 million venture, which transformed the landmark into a 58,000-square-foot food emporium following a multi-year relocation and restoration.
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Work begins on East Harlem tower with 340 affordable apartments and new arts center

Photo by Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

February 18, 2026

Work begins on East Harlem tower with 340 affordable apartments and new arts center

By Devin Gannon

An affordable housing project first conceived as part of the East Harlem rezoning 10 years ago has finally kicked off construction. The city on Wednesday broke ground on Timbale Terrace, a 100 percent affordable tower with 341 apartments and a new theater and performing arts center for Belongó, formerly known as the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance. Located at East 118th Street and Park Avenue, the site sat vacant for decades before most recently serving as a police department parking lot.
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MetroCard artwork on view at new Grand Central exhibition

Nina Boesch, courtesy of the New York Transit Museum

February 11, 2026

MetroCard artwork on view at new Grand Central exhibition

By Aaron Ginsburg

While you can no longer swipe them to ride, New York City’s iconic MetroCard will once again be in the spotlight as part of a new exhibition at Grand Central Terminal next month. Opening March 16 at the New York Transit Museum's Grand Central Gallery and Store, "Inspired by MetroCard" shows how artists and designers have transformed the retired transit card into an artistic medium over its three-decade history. Drawing from the museum’s collections and contemporary works, the exhibition features fashion, sculpture, painting, and collage, along with limited-edition collector cards decorated with original artwork.
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City opens Studio Gang-designed Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in Flatbush

All photos © Alexander Severin unless otherwise noted

February 10, 2026

City opens Studio Gang-designed Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in Flatbush

By Devin Gannon

Brooklyn's largest recreation center officially opened its doors in East Flatbush this week. Located within Nostrand Playground, the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center measures 74,000 square feet and includes an indoor pool, basketball court, full gym, a media lab, outdoor spaces, and more. Designed by Studio Gang, the firm behind the Gilder Center at the Museum of Natural History and Brooklyn residential tower 11 Hoyt, the building features large arched windows, a curving brick facade, and a green roof.
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New Canarsie library to be one of NYC’s first mass timber public buildings

Renderings courtesy of Studio Joseph

February 9, 2026

New Canarsie library to be one of NYC’s first mass timber public buildings

By Aaron Ginsburg

Canarsie's new library will become one of New York City's first public buildings constructed from mass timber. City officials on Saturday celebrated the groundbreaking of the new Canarsie Library, a two-story, 11,000-square-foot branch on Rockaway Parkway and Avenue J that doubles the size of the previous building to better serve current and future patrons. The project highlights the city’s adoption of mass timber, a sustainable, low-carbon building method that combines natural beauty with climate-related benefits. The new library is scheduled to open next year.
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Architecture And Design

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