Architecture And Design

This is what a renewed Erie Canal could look like in the years to come. Gov. Andrew Cuomo revealed a $300 million proposal on Monday to revamp the 19th-century waterway that was started by Gov. DeWitt Clinton in 1817. The multi-phase plan originates in research conducted by the "Reimagine the Canals" task force assembled by Cuomo last May. The first phase will begin later this year and comprises two parts: a $100 million economic development fund to invest in communities along the canal and $65 million toward preventing ice jams and flooding in the Schenectady area. The remaining $135 million will be allocated based on recommendations made in the task force’s report.
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Architecture And Design

How to decorate your apartment with the Pantone Color of the Year, Classic Blue

Image courtesy of Pantone

January 6, 2020

How to decorate your apartment with the Pantone Color of the Year, Classic Blue

Since 2000, the Pantone Color Institute graphics company has chosen a Color of the Year, and the 2020 hue is PANTONE 19-4052 TCX, otherwise known as "Classic Blue." The blue hue is indeed a classic–a primary color that's simple, bright, and doesn't pull any punches. It calls to mind blueberries, nautical motifs, and, yes, Facebook. Below are some ideas for putting a pop of this cheery color in your space and your life, from apartment-friendly sofas and chairs to necessary accessories like a self-cleaning water bottle.
A Classic Blue mood, this way

Iconic West Village wooden house drops its price to $8.75M

Photos by Allyson Lubow and Corcoran’s Dean DeCarlo, courtesy of The Corcoran Group

January 3, 2020

Iconic West Village wooden house drops its price to $8.75M

If you follow the NYC streetscape Instagram circuit, the historic 1822 home at 17 Grove Street in the West Village will certainly look familiar. Its adorable facade, corner location, and the fact that it's one of the oldest standing wood-frame houses in the Village, all make this property photo-ready. But looks alone don't seem to be doing the trick, as the Post tells us that the home has lowered its asking price to $8.75 million from the $12 million it listed for in April.
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Times Square’s Palace Theatre overhaul includes outdoor stage and ‘ball drop’ suites

Rendering courtesy of TSX Broadway

January 2, 2020

Times Square’s Palace Theatre overhaul includes outdoor stage and ‘ball drop’ suites

A mixed-use development project hopes to bring even more bright lights and theatrics to Times Square. A team of developers, led by L&L Holding Company, will provide the ultimate New Year's Eve experience at its new luxury hotel, part of the plan to transform the historic Palace Theatre into TSX Broadway. New renderings of the $2.5 billion project, which involves raising the theater more than 30 feet and building a 669-room hotel above it, show off suites with perfect views of the Times Square ball drop, the neighborhood's first outdoor stage, and immersive retail experiences.
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December 30, 2019

21 experts on NYC’s most important projects of the past decade

By 6sqft

As the decade draws to a close, we're reflecting on the growth and evolution of New York City during the 2010s. In the past 10 years, the city has seen the rebirth of neighborhoods, the creation of a totally new one, the return of a major sports team to Brooklyn, and the biggest subway expansion in decades. We've asked notable New Yorkers to share which project of the past decade they believe has made the most significant impact on the city, from the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site to the revival of the Coney Island boardwalk.
The full list ahead

Architecture And Design

Announcing 6sqft’s 2019 Building of the Year!

Rendering via DBOX; frame via Pixabay

December 13, 2019

Announcing 6sqft’s 2019 Building of the Year!

By 6sqft

The votes have been tallied, and it’s time to name the 2019 Building of the Year! The winning title belongs to none other than Nomad's Madison House at 15 East 30th Street. The 62-story tower beat out 11 other significant NYC buildings, taking first place with 1,284 votes, 34% of the 3,823 total votes cast. Not only is the building the tallest in Nomad at 805 feet, but its sleek design from Handel Architects was done in a unique decagon shape that allows all of the 199 apartments to have column-free corners. Plus, Nomad is an ever-burgeoning neighborhood full of hip restaurants, plenty of transit options, and one of the city's greatest concentrations of fitness studios.
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December 12, 2019

NYC’s 11 best starchitect-designed buildings that you can live in

By Lidia Ryan

The Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, One World Trade Center: all buildings that instantly come to mind when you think of the iconic New York City skyline. But more and more new skyscrapers are beginning to pop up in that classic view. And while it’s likely many an architects' dream to contribute a design to the most famous skyline in the world, only a handful of world-renowned "starchitects" get to do it. Ahead, 6sqft has rounded up 11 starchitect-designed condo buildings that you can actually live in, from veterans like Robert A.M. Stern and Renzo Piano to some more up-and-comers like David Adjaye and Bjarke Ingels.
See the list

All renderings © James Corner Field Operations and BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, courtesy of Two Trees Management

December 12, 2019

Massive Bjarke Ingels-designed apartment towers and public beach planned for Williamsburg

Two new mixed-use towers with 1,000 units of housing and six acres of public space have been proposed for the North Brooklyn waterfront. Two Trees Management on Thursday unveiled plans to bring two Bjarke Ingels Group-designed buildings, one at 650 feet and the other at 600 feet, on River Street between North 1st and North 3rd Street in Williamsburg. The buildings, with Metropolitan Avenue running between them, will serve as an entrance to the new waterfront space, part of a master plan designed in collaboration with BIG and James Corner Field Operations. The park and public beach would close the gap between Grand Ferry Park and North Fifth Park, eventually providing continuous access to the East River between South Williamsburg and Greenpoint.
Check out the whole project

See inside The Wing’s newest location in Bryant Park

Images by Tory Williams; courtesy of The Wing

December 11, 2019

See inside The Wing’s newest location in Bryant Park

The Wing is celebrating the end of a busy year with the opening of its newest NYC location in Bryant Park at 25 West 39th Street. As we've come to expect from the women-only co-working and community space, the design is warm, inviting, and highly Instagrammable. It occupies roughly 7,000 square feet—the entire 11th floor of the building—with a range of workspaces, personal areas, a mother's room, a full-service cafe, and more.
Take a look around

Architecture And Design

One Vanderbilt’s observation deck named the Summit, will have two glass-floored overhangs

After attending a presentation by One Vanderbilt's developer SL Green, the Post was able to share some juicy new details on the office building's observation deck, which will be the second-highest outdoor deck in the city and is being designed by Snøhetta. Now known as The Summit at One Vanderbilt, the 59th-floor deck will have "two step-out, glass floor ledges that overhang Madison Avenue." Also on this floor will be food and beverage options, and on the floor below will be an "'infinity room' with 40-foot-high ceilings." The building is set to open in August 2020, while the Summit will begin welcoming guests (who will pay $35 for the experience) at the end of 2021.
More details right here

New NYC buildings must be constructed with bird-friendly materials

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

December 11, 2019

New NYC buildings must be constructed with bird-friendly materials

The New York City Council approved on Tuesday a bill requiring new buildings to be constructed with bird-friendly materials. Considered the most extensive policy of its kind in the country, the initiative mandates new glass buildings, as well as projects undergoing a major renovation, to be equipped with materials that are easier for birds to see. Each year, between roughly 90,000 and 230,000 birds die each year in New York City from colliding with glass buildings, according to the NYC Audubon.
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Swedish photography museum Fotografiska to open in the historic Church Missions House

Renderings courtesy of CetraRuddy

December 10, 2019

Swedish photography museum Fotografiska to open in the historic Church Missions House

Stockholm-based photography museum Fotografiska is opening its first stateside outpost in New York City this month. Housed inside the former Church Missions House at 281 Park Avenue South, the organization will bring 45,000 square feet of exhibition and event spaces, alongside a restaurant inspired by European “grand cafés.” New York firm CetraRuddy led the restoration and redesign of the landmarked space, working with Higgins Quasebarth & Partners to preserve the stained-glass windows and limestone and granite facade of the Renaissance Revival building.
More info

State recognizes TWA Hotel as historic site, nominates two other NYC buildings

Photo: TWA Hotel/David Mitchell

December 9, 2019

State recognizes TWA Hotel as historic site, nominates two other NYC buildings

The state last week awarded ten projects with historic preservation awards, and nominated a dozen other sites to be nominated for the state and national historic places registers. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation recognized the TWA Hotel at JFK Airport for its preservation of Eero Saarinen's Trans World Airlines terminal, which serves as the lobby for a new 512-room hotel.
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Work starts on transforming Hudson Street to a ‘grand allée’ with wide sidewalks and bike lanes

Courtesy of Matthews Nielsen Landscape Architecture, P.C. with attribution to W Architecture and Landscape Architecture, LLC

December 4, 2019

Work starts on transforming Hudson Street to a ‘grand allée’ with wide sidewalks and bike lanes

In May, the city announced plans to make Hudson Street between Canal and West Houston Streets in Hudson Square into a grand boulevard with wider sidewalks, parking-protected bike lanes, and small outdoor "living rooms" with seating surrounded by greenery are moving forward with design and construction teams on board. And now, work has officially commenced on the first phase of the project, shortly after Disney revealed its forthcoming Hudson Square headquarters, which will bring 5,000 new employees to the area.
Find out more

This Saturday, celebrate the 300th anniversary of Brooklyn’s Lott House

Photo by Alyssa Loorya, VP of Friends of the Lott House

December 4, 2019

This Saturday, celebrate the 300th anniversary of Brooklyn’s Lott House

It's been 300 years since the Hendrick I. Lott House was built on a rural piece of land in Marine Park, Brooklyn. One of the few Dutch-American houses remaining in NYC, in its original location no less, the Lott House also has the distinction of being the longest single-family owned and occupied home in the city. Though it is currently closed for renovations, the Lott House still hosts educational events, and this Saturday, they'll be celebrating their milestone anniversary with a holiday celebration, tree lighting, and rare chance to go inside.
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New looks for Thomas Heatherwick’s quirky Lantern House condos on the High Line

Rendering courtesy of Related Companies

December 4, 2019

New looks for Thomas Heatherwick’s quirky Lantern House condos on the High Line

New renderings were released this week of Thomas Heatherwick's first residential project in the United States, providing a peek inside one of New York City's most unique new buildings. Developed by Related Companies, Lantern House consists of two High Line-flanking towers, one at 10 stories and the other at 22 stories, both with glassy bubbled exteriors. Four new images reveal its freestanding glass lobby pavilion which connects the two buildings and is pierced by two beams from the elevated park above.
See inside

Design unveiled for New York Philharmonic’s $550M revamped concert hall

Renderings courtesy of the New York Philharmonic and Lincoln Center

December 2, 2019

Design unveiled for New York Philharmonic’s $550M revamped concert hall

A plan to redesign the New York Philharmonic's concert hall was unveiled on Monday, nearly two decades after the project was first proposed. The $550 million plan aims to create a more intimate experience, acoustically and visually, at David Geffen Hall by moving the stage closer to the audience, improving sightlines, and reducing the seating capacity. Officials estimate the new hall will open in March of 2024.
More here

Architecture And Design

Empire State Building opens 80th-floor observatory, completing $165M redevelopment

Photo by Evan Joseph for Empire State Realty Trust

December 2, 2019

Empire State Building opens 80th-floor observatory, completing $165M redevelopment

With the opening of the 80th-floor observatory last week, the $165 million, four-year redevelopment of the Empire State Building is now complete. In partnership with the city's tourism agency, NYC & Company, Empire State Realty Trust created an interactive, visitor-focused experience, which includes personalized digital itineraries, the building's classic viewfinders, film, original artwork, and more. The Trust unveiled the 102nd-floor observatory to the public in October, with the second-floor museum opening earlier in the summer.
See it here

Architecture And Design

Take a tour of the NYBG’s Holiday Train Show, now with a new Central Park section

All photos by James and Karla Murray exclusively for 6sqft

November 26, 2019

Take a tour of the NYBG’s Holiday Train Show, now with a new Central Park section

The New York Botanical Garden's 28th annual Holiday Train Show is back for the season, and this year it has an entirely new Central Park section, featuring iconic spots like Belvedere Castle, Bethesda Terrace, and the Bow Bridge--all made entirely from natural materials including bark, seeds, berries acorns, and cinnamon sticks. 6sqft took a special tour of the exhibit, which features a total of 175 New York landmarks, and went behind-the-scenes with Laura Busse Dolan, President and CEO of Applied Imagination, the design firm that works all year long to make this whimsical show a reality. From the exhibit's 2,000 plants to its 25,000 pounds of cedar bark and 200 boxes of moss, Laura fills us in on all the fun and little-known facts about the Holiday Train Show.
Take a tour

Get a first look inside Renzo Piano’s first NYC residential tower at 565 Broome Street

Photo by Adrian Gaut/Edge Reps (L); Photo by Joshua McHugh (R)

November 25, 2019

Get a first look inside Renzo Piano’s first NYC residential tower at 565 Broome Street

Known for his work on The New York Times Building, the Whitney Museum, and the Morgan Library expansion, Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano has completed his first residential building in NYC at 565 Broome Street. The Soho tower has 115 residences, ranging from studios to four-bedroom condos. Uber’s Travis Kalanick and tennis star Novak Djokovic have already scooped up units in the building, where sales launched last September.
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East Midtown Greenway, $100M link in a connected Manhattan waterfront loop, breaks ground

Rendering courtesy of Stantec

November 25, 2019

East Midtown Greenway, $100M link in a connected Manhattan waterfront loop, breaks ground

The creation of the East Midtown Greenway (EMG), a 1.5-acre public space stretching from East 53rd to 61st Streets along the waterfront, got underway Friday. The project, to be completed by 2022, is part of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway initiative to wrap the entire perimeter of Manhattan with accessible public spaces and safe bicycle paths. The midtown space will close one of the largest remaining gaps in the $250 million city initiative, announced by Mayor de Blasio in 2018, to connect 32 miles of Manhattan waterfront esplanade.
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Architecture And Design

Construction breaks ground for Greenpoint Landing’s OMA-designed towers

Rendering courtesy of OMA/ nuur.nu

November 20, 2019

Construction breaks ground for Greenpoint Landing’s OMA-designed towers

Construction is now underway on the next phase of development at Greenpoint Landing, which includes one acre of additional public waterfront space designed by James Corner Field Operations and two new residential towers designed by Rem Koolhaas’ international architecture firm, OMA. In addition to 745 units of mixed-income housing, the new towers will also add 8,600 square feet of ground-floor retail.
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Get a new look at Hudson River Park’s Pier 97 after $38M revamp

Images: !melk/Hudson River Park Trust

November 19, 2019

Get a new look at Hudson River Park’s Pier 97 after $38M revamp

Hudson River Park's northernmost pier is being transformed from a concrete strip to nearly two acres of green space with an esplanade and other amenities, Curbed NY reports. Renderings from design firm !melk, who is working with the Hudson River Park Trust on the revamp of Pier 97, located off 12th avenue and 57th Street in Hell's Kitchen, show a verdant respite from the city and din of the nearby West Side Highway. The vision for the new space at the gateway to Hudson River Park will consist of a series of connected spaces with walkways, sculptural canopies and a playground, with an elevated "belvedere" overlooking the river.
More renderings, this way

Architecture And Design

Enjoy a ‘Victorian Christmas’ at Westchester’s Octagon House

All photos courtesy of the Armour–Stiner House

November 18, 2019

Enjoy a ‘Victorian Christmas’ at Westchester’s Octagon House