Studio Gang, Sauerbruch Hutton to redesign German consulate in NYC
Skyline view from the river. © sauerbruch hutton
Architecture firms Studio Gang and Sauerbruch Hutton have been tapped to redesign German House, home to Germany’s consulate in New York City. Selected as the winner of an international design competition, the firms will “radically transform” the building’s facade, enhance its environmental performance, and reinforce the tower’s status as a civic landmark. Sauerbruch Hutton will serve as the lead architect, with Studio Gang as the architect of record, on the 23-story government building at 871-873 First Avenue.
Originally designed by SLCE Architects, the 31-year-old granite-and-glass-clad building houses Germany’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, the Consulate General, and affiliated cultural partners. The building is located just north of the United Nations Plaza.
The project marks the first collaboration between the two architectural firms. In the five boroughs, Studio Gang may be best known for their work on the American Museum of Natural History’s Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation, which opened in 2023.
In a statement, the competition jury that selected the firms’ proposal said the design would effectively represent Germany in New York and at the United Nations.
“[T]he jury considers that this proposal demonstrates a high level of architectural and design quality, with a clear and functional organization that will result in a contemporary, efficient, and sustainable building.”
“Above all, it will be capable of representing the Federal Republic of Germany in New York and at the United Nations through an architecture that is original, optimistic, transparent, and accessible, fully aware of the role this building plays within this context,” the jury continued.
According to the firms, three main principles guide the redesign. The first is to create a building that represents Germany’s “democratic values of participation, transparency, and freedom” while offering an open, generous, and welcoming environment for those who work there and visit.
The new design aims to showcase the latest in German engineering, including sustainable features such as building-integrated photovoltaics installed on the best-exposed facade elements to generate renewable energy on-site. A box-window system will also incorporate high-performance solar shading within the facade, maintaining views while meeting security requirements.
The project will transform the existing structure rather than replace it, reducing embodied carbon while substantially upgrading the building and improving occupant comfort. Windows will be operable, allowing for natural ventilation, a cultural practice that is common in Germany.
The second goal is to create an outstanding workplace where staff feel connected to the country they represent and can work comfortably throughout the day.
Halfway up the tower, a sky lobby with a vertical garden will provide a shaded space for work and socializing. According to the architects, the space will serve as a symbolic meeting point for the Consulate General and the U.N. Mission, reinforcing themes of synergy between the building’s distinct programs.
And the third is intended to make the tower a “civic landmark,” creating a striking presence both at street level and among the surrounding skyline. Its new colored facade will give German House a distinct identity while integrating it into the cityscape.
At the top of the tower, a new restaurant on the top floors will open onto a covered roof terrace offering panoramic views of the city. The space will also feature a lightweight garden pavilion for informal gatherings and other events.
“We look forward to working with the Bundesbau Baden-Württemberg and sauerbruch hutton to help reimagine German House as a more welcoming and sustainable model for civic architecture in New York and within the international diplomatic community,” Jeanne Gang, founding partner at Studio Gang, said.
“This project, which holds cultural exchange at its heart, is an exciting opportunity to bring together German design expertise with the proven project delivery in NYC,” she added.
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