Architecture And Design

New public waterfront esplanade opens at Astoria residential complex

All photos courtesy of Jeremy Frechette/The Durst Organization

August 12, 2025

New public waterfront esplanade opens at Astoria residential complex

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A previously industrial stretch of the East River in Astoria has been transformed into a vibrant public waterfront esplanade, restoring access to the area for the first time in decades. On Monday, the Durst Organization celebrated the opening of the Halletts Point esplanade, located beside the developer’s 20 and 30 Halletts Point buildings. Designed by Starr Whitehouse, the 50,000-square-foot waterfront green space offers sweeping city skyline views, lots of seating, a playground, and picnic areas.
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Flatiron Building will be illuminated at night for the first time as part of condo conversion

On left: Photo by Artem Zhukov on Unsplash. On right: Rendering courtesy of The Flatiron Building

August 6, 2025

Flatiron Building will be illuminated at night for the first time as part of condo conversion

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After over 120 years as a commercial building, the Flatiron Building will shine brightly as a new condo development. Literally. The distinct triangular building at 175 Fifth Avenue will be illuminated for the first time in its history when it reopens as luxury apartments. As first reported by the New York Post, the LED lighting scheme, designed by L’Observatoire International and approved by the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission, will be most prominent on the top five floors beneath the building’s signature cornice, then cascade downward to emphasize its architectural details, which have been restored as part of a multi-year renovation.
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Elevated by 10 feet, Battery Park City’s Wagner Park reopens with new flood protection

All images courtesy of Battery Park City Authority

July 30, 2025

Elevated by 10 feet, Battery Park City’s Wagner Park reopens with new flood protection

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Wagner Park in Battery Park City reopened on Tuesday after a two-year overhaul to better protect the park and Lower Manhattan from coastal flooding. As part of the Battery Coastal Resilience Project, much of the 3.5-acre park was elevated by 10 feet to hide a buried floodwall under the central lawn that will protect against storm surge. There's a 63,000-gallon underground cistern for rainwater reuse and lush gardens planted with native, salt-resistant species. The park's flood risk reduction system includes both passive and deployable measures, designed to withstand a 100-year storm and projected to protect from severe storms through the 2050s based on anticipated sea level rise.
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Hebrew Union College taps Beyer Blinder Belle to renovate historic UWS armory building for new campus

Photos courtesy of Hebrew Union College

July 24, 2025

Hebrew Union College taps Beyer Blinder Belle to renovate historic UWS armory building for new campus

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A historic Upper West Side armory building turned television studio is getting ready for its next chapter. After buying the First Battery Armory from ABC earlier this year, Hebrew Union College has hired Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners to renovate the landmarked building as part of the Jewish seminary's new New York campus. The renovation will add modern classrooms, a new library, and dedicated spaces for prayer and gathering.
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Landmarks approves design for Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment

Images courtesy of FXCollaborative/ NYCEDC

July 22, 2025

Landmarks approves design for Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment

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Plans to transform the historic and long-vacant Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx into a community and cultural hub are moving forward. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to approve the design for the adaptive reuse of the massive armory, which will include a new event venue, recreation center, sports fields, public plaza, and 500 affordable apartments next door. Led by the city's Economic Development Corporation, the major project, dubbed El Centro Kingsbridge, calls for extensive restoration and expansion of the armory itself, featuring new and expanded masonry and facade work, as well as a new public plaza, landscaping, and signage.
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Waldorf Astoria New York reopens for the first time since 2017

All images courtesy of the Waldorf Astoria New York, unless noted otherwise

July 22, 2025

Waldorf Astoria New York reopens for the first time since 2017

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New York City's legendary Waldorf Astoria has finally reopened after a major restoration project that transformed the 1,400-room hotel into 375 luxury condos and 375 hotel rooms. The landmarked Art Deco icon closed in 2017 and was originally scheduled for completion in 2021. Led by the architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the restoration refreshed many of the hotel’s most iconic fixtures while introducing new elements that reflect the original vision of architects Schultze & Weaver, as the New York Times reported.
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Sales launch at 19th-century Gothic Revival church conversion in Fort Greene, condos from $1.195M

All renderings courtesy of Brett Fisher/Depict CGI

July 18, 2025

Sales launch at 19th-century Gothic Revival church conversion in Fort Greene, condos from $1.195M

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Sales have launched at a thoughtfully converted 19th-century Gothic Revival church in Fort Greene. Located at 232 Adelphi Street, the Abbey offers 12 unique residences that preserve the historic church’s grandeur, with soaring vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows, arched doorways, and original stonework sourced from nearby Fort Greene Park. Prices start at $1.195 million for one-bedroom units and go up to $4 million for a three-bedroom.
see inside the "house" of holies, ahead
Delacorte Theater reopens in Central Park after $85M renovation

Credit: © Jeff Goldberg/Esto

July 16, 2025

Delacorte Theater reopens in Central Park after $85M renovation

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Central Park’s iconic Delacorte Theater officially reopened this week after an $85 million renovation. The Public Theater on Tuesday cut the ribbon on the revamped venue, which has undergone a comprehensive revitalization by Ennead Architects, the most significant work on the facility in its 63-year history. The project addresses critical safety and theater code requirements, improves infrastructure and backstage efficiency, and introduces a striking new exterior. The Delacorte will officially reopen to the public on August 7 for its first star-studded public performance of William Shakespeare’s "Twelfth Night" as part of the beloved Free Shakespeare in the Park series.
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Pier 17 owner proposes glass rooftop addition for year-round concerts

Credit: Seaport Entertainment Group

July 15, 2025

Pier 17 owner proposes glass rooftop addition for year-round concerts

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Live music could soon become a year-round staple at the Rooftop at Pier 17, as the venue’s operator seeks approval to install a glass addition to house concerts during the winter. In a presentation to the Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday, the Seaport Entertainment Group detailed plans for a seasonal heated structure on the rooftop of the South Street Seaport District venue to accommodate performances from November through mid-March. The structure would allow the venue to extend its rooftop concert series into the winter, a time when foot traffic in the Seaport drops significantly.
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The High Line’s 10th Avenue Square closed through August for repairs

Photo courtesy of Sarah Wood on Unsplash

July 8, 2025

The High Line’s 10th Avenue Square closed through August for repairs

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One of the High Line’s busiest sections has closed this summer for a major upgrade. After 16 years of use, the 10th Avenue Square is temporarily off-limits for vital repairs due to wear and tear from the millions of annual visitors who pass through the popular spot, known for its stunning south-facing views of the Statue of Liberty and the Hudson River. During the reconstruction, the High Line will be closed between 16th and 17th Streets, including the adjacent Sunken Overlook seating area.
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New futuristic restrooms open in five NYC parks, each at $1M to install

All photos courtesy of NYC Parks

July 2, 2025

New futuristic restrooms open in five NYC parks, each at $1M to install

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Five new sleek public restrooms have opened in New York City parks—each with a $1 million price tag. Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday announced the installation of the "Portland Loos"—modern restrooms designed for year-round use and quick assembly, now placed in each of the five boroughs. While the restrooms themselves are relatively inexpensive, installation costs reached nearly $1 million each due to infrastructure upgrades, including extending water and electrical lines, according to amNY. But the prefabricated toilets are still significantly cheaper than traditional restrooms, which can cost between $3 and $5 million.
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See CetraRuddy’s 46-story residential tower set to rise in Long Island City

Credit: CetraRuddy Architects

July 1, 2025

See CetraRuddy’s 46-story residential tower set to rise in Long Island City

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A 46-story residential tower designed by CetraRuddy is ready to rise in Long Island City after developers secured financing. Developers Baron Property Group and LargaVista Companies on Monday announced that 30-25 Queens Boulevard, a 525-foot-tall project set to bring more than 500 homes to the neighborhood, had acquired $388.5 million in construction financing. The tower will include 561 residences, 451 rentals and 110 condos, ranging from studios to two-bedrooms, along with 21,000 square feet of ground-floor retail and a suite of expansive amenities.
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NYC taps landscape architect to reimagine Park Avenue

Credit: Leslie Cross on Unsplash

June 27, 2025

NYC taps landscape architect to reimagine Park Avenue

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New York City has selected a landscape architect to lead the pedestrian-focused transformation of Park Avenue. Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Thursday announced that an 18-month contract has been awarded to Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners to redesign a portion of the iconic corridor between East 46th and East 57th Streets. The project will widen the median and install pedestrian upgrades, new seating, landscaping, and innovative streetscape amenities.
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Silverstein adds 2,000 apartments to sweeten casino proposal for Manhattan’s west side

Renderings courtesy of Silverstein Properties / Binyan Studios

June 26, 2025

Silverstein adds 2,000 apartments to sweeten casino proposal for Manhattan’s west side

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Silverstein Properties said it would develop more than 2,000 apartments through office-to-residential conversions on Manhattan's west side if its casino bid is awarded a license. The developer on Thursday announced a partnership with MetroLoft to develop the apartments, which would include 500 permanently affordable units, a day before casino proposals are due. The addition of housing sweetens Silverstein's $7 billion bid, The Avenir, which calls for a 1,000-room luxury hotel, restaurants, a food hall, and a gaming facility near the Javits Center. The previous plans had proposed 100 affordable apartments located off-site.
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East Village parking garage to become luxury, red-brick condo with 18 loft-style apartments

Renderings courtesy of Plomp

June 24, 2025

East Village parking garage to become luxury, red-brick condo with 18 loft-style apartments

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An East Village parking garage plagued by structural issues is getting new life as an attractive red-brick condo with 18 loft-like residences. Designed and developed by Arcus, the project at 220 East 9th Street converts the shuttered 175-space garage into a six-story boutique building with one- to four-bedroom apartments, each with a distinct floor plan. Currently under construction, the condo will feature a hand-laid red brick facade punctuated by oversized arched and factory-style windows, and includes private on-site parking, a rarity in downtown Manhattan.
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A ‘mini forest’ has arrived on the Williamsburg waterfront

Images courtesy of NYC Parks / Daniel Avila

June 19, 2025

A ‘mini forest’ has arrived on the Williamsburg waterfront

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A neglected stretch of the Williamsburg waterfront just got "spruced" up. NYC Parks unveiled a new "mini forest" at North Fifth Pier and Park this week, transforming an empty lot into a fully formed forest ecosystem with mature trees, wildflowers, stones, and more. The new green space, designed to beautify the area, improve air quality, and help protect against flooding, is inspired by "Miyawaki pocket forests," a Japanese planting method that adds dense clusters of native trees to compact urban spaces. In 2024, New York City's first-ever mini forest was planted on Roosevelt Island.
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Two areas of historic suburban Flatbush could be landmarked

Proposed Beverley Square West Historic District. Photo credit: NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission

June 17, 2025

Two areas of historic suburban Flatbush could be landmarked

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Two well-preserved areas of historic suburban Flatbush could become New York City’s newest landmarked districts. The city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to calendar the proposed Beverley Square West and Ditmas Park West Historic Districts, which together include 247 freestanding homes built between 1894 and 1910. The houses exemplify early 20th-century suburban architecture in Flatbush, like Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, or a mixture of the two.
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$8.9M restoration of Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza Arch is complete

Photos courtesy of NYC Parks / Malcolm Pinckney

June 6, 2025

$8.9M restoration of Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza Arch is complete

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A Brooklyn icon has been restored. The Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Arch at Grand Army Plaza reopened on Thursday following a $8.9 million renovation, the city's Parks Department and the Prospect Park Alliance announced. The two-year project replaced the arch's roof, cleaned and replaced the brick and stone structure, repaired interiors, including the cast-iron spiral staircase, and added new lighting. The landscape surrounding the arch was also revitalized with new plants, trees, paving, and an accessible curb cut.
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New public space and skateboarding section open as part of revitalized Brooklyn Banks

Photos courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

June 5, 2025

New public space and skateboarding section open as part of revitalized Brooklyn Banks

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Two more acres of public open space have opened beneath the Brooklyn Bridge in Chinatown, as part of the revitalization of skateboarding mecca Brooklyn Banks. Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday announced the expansion of "The Arches," along with an additional $50 million in funding to further enhance the park with new amenities, including public seating, plantings, lighting, and other upgrades. The new section includes a refurbished "Big Banks," which has been closed to skateboarders since 2010. The city began revitalizing and gradually reopening it as a public space in May 2023.
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The Frick Collection opens its first cafe

All photos of Westmoreland, the new cafe at the Frick Collection, courtesy of William Jess Laird, unless otherwise noted.

June 5, 2025

The Frick Collection opens its first cafe

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Spending an afternoon at a museum is one of the most "New York" things you can do. And while MoMa, the Met and the Guggenheim are flocked to, the Frick Collection is a quieter Upper East Side gem. Now, the newly renovated museum housed in the 1914 residence of Henry Clay Frick serves up Rembrandt and El Greco masterpieces with a cocktail and a bite.
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Bjarke Ingels unveils cascading concrete tower with 1,000 apartments along the Gowanus Canal

All renderings by bucharest.studio

June 3, 2025

Bjarke Ingels unveils cascading concrete tower with 1,000 apartments along the Gowanus Canal

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It's going to be BIG. Architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) this week unveiled designs for a 1,000-unit mixed-use tower at 175 Third Street in Gowanus, expected to be the largest building in the neighborhood. Situated along the canal, the concrete-clad building will take a horseshoe shape and rise 27 stories in a series of cascading volumes. The u-shape design opens towards the canal, where a park and esplanade will offer public open space and flood protection.
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Artist Isolina Minjeong’s Downtown Brooklyn ground murals feel like ‘quiet blessings’

Images courtesy of DBP

June 3, 2025

Artist Isolina Minjeong’s Downtown Brooklyn ground murals feel like ‘quiet blessings’

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Downtown Brooklyn just got brighter and safer, thanks to a colorful new public art installation. In the ground murals titled "Fear No Frontier," New York City-based artist Isolina Minjeong channels her Korean and Peruvian heritage with a bold design depicting powerful creatures, like tigers and dragons, a tribute to the resilience of New Yorkers. The vibrant piece measures roughly 10,700 square feet across the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Shared Streets and the area surrounding the Jay Street busway. Ahead, learn more about the murals and hear from Minjeong, who said she wanted the artwork to feel like "quiet blessings."
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East River Park section reopens with new passive lawn, picnic areas, and courts

All photos courtesy of DDC

May 30, 2025

East River Park section reopens with new passive lawn, picnic areas, and courts

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City officials on Thursday celebrated the opening of new public spaces in East River Park, just in time for summer. Closed since 2021 as part of the project to protect the Lower East Side from rising sea levels, the south end of the park's new amenities include picnic and barbecue areas, six tennis courts, two basketball courts, a passive lawn, a nature exploration area, and a multi-use area. These areas are currently only accessible via the new Delancey Street pedestrian bridge.
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Construction begins on new $10B Port Authority Bus Terminal

Gov. Kathy Hochul, Gov. Phil Murphy, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey broke ground on the Dyer Avenue deckovers. Photo courtesy of PANYNJ on Flickr

May 29, 2025

Construction begins on new $10B Port Authority Bus Terminal

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Construction began on the first phase of the new $10 billion Port Authority Bus Terminal on Thursday, marking an important milestone for the long-awaited project. Gov. Kathy Hochul and Gov. Phil Murphy joined the Port Authority in a groundbreaking ceremony for the Dyer Avenue deck-overs, which will be used for staging buses during construction and will eventually become a public green space when the new terminal opens. The first phase deck-overs, along with new ramps and a bus storage facility, are expected to be completed by 2028, with the full terminal opening in 2032.
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Silverstein unveils new wavy design for 785-foot-tall casino complex across from Javits Center

Renderings courtesy of Silverstein Properties / Binyan Studios

May 28, 2025

Silverstein unveils new wavy design for 785-foot-tall casino complex across from Javits Center

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Silverstein Properties this week unveiled a new design for its casino project proposed for an empty lot across from the Javits Center. The Avenir would rise 785 feet at 41st Street and 11th Avenue and include a 1,000-room luxury hotel, restaurants, a food hall, and a gaming facility, if the developer secures one of the three downstate casino licenses expected to be awarded this year. Designed by CetraRuddy Architecture and Steelman Partners, the project includes a podium with a facade of "gentle harmonious waves" topped by a sculpted 45-story tower. The design revises the original proposal, which called for two 46-story towers, following community feedback.
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