Architecture And Design

Met Museum unveils design for new modern and contemporary art wing designed by Frida Escobedo

Exterior rendering of The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Tang Wing(view from the southwest corner). Visualization by © Filippo Bolognese Images, courtesy of Frida Escobedo Studio

December 10, 2024

Met Museum unveils design for new modern and contemporary art wing designed by Frida Escobedo

By Devin Gannon

The Metropolitan Museum of Art on Tuesday unveiled the design for its new wing dedicated to contemporary and modern art. Designed by Mexico City-based architect Frida Escobedo, the five-story Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Wing, named for the couple who gave a lead donation of $125 million, includes a three-story base, a recessed fourth floor, and a further setback fifth floor, a scaled facade inspired by the 1971 masterplan from Roche Dinkeloo. The $550 million new wing will better connect to the rest of the museum's galleries and address accessibility and sustainability needs. The project, the first Met Museum wing designed by a woman in its 154-year history, will go through a public review process starting in 2025. It is expected to open in 2030.
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Architecture And Design

New Lots Library redesign will recognize site’s legacy as an African Burial Ground

Renderings courtesy of MASS Design & Marble Fairbanks Architects

December 9, 2024

New Lots Library redesign will recognize site’s legacy as an African Burial Ground

By Aaron Ginsburg

A transformational library redesign in East New York will honor the site's legacy as an African Burial Ground. The Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) on Saturday revealed plans for the redesigned New Lots Library by MASS Design and Marble Fairbanks, designed to better serve local residents and recognize the formerly unacknowledged African Burial Ground while celebrating African American culture. The library is slated to close for construction in fall 2025.
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Architecture And Design

Largest and most expensive Stegosaurus fossil now on view at AMNH

The Apex Stegosaurus on view in the American Museum of Natural History’s Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation. Alvaro Keding & Daniel Kim/© AMNH

December 6, 2024

Largest and most expensive Stegosaurus fossil now on view at AMNH

By Aaron Ginsburg

One of the largest and most complete Stegosaurus fossils ever discovered—and the most expensive—is now on display at the American Museum of Natural History. Known as Apex, the 150-million-year-old fossil, measuring 11.5 feet tall and 27 feet long, was unveiled on Thursday just inside the entrance to the museum's Richard Gilder Center in the Kenneth C. Griffin Exploration Atrium. Nearly 80 percent complete, the fossil was loaned to AMNH by Griffin, who purchased it for a record-breaking $44.6 million at a Sotheby’s auction in July, according to Gothamist.
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Feds approve $10B Port Authority Bus Terminal redesign

Renderings courtesy of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

December 5, 2024

Feds approve $10B Port Authority Bus Terminal redesign

By Aaron Ginsburg

A $10 billion plan to transform Midtown's aging Port Authority Bus Terminal into a world-class transit hub has received approval from the federal government and the city of New York. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) on Wednesday was issued a record of decision by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) after an "exhaustive" environmental review. The first phase of work, which will construct deck-overs above Dyers Avenue, is slated to begin early next year.
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Conversion of Bushwick’s 19th-century William Ulmer Brewery into a mixed-use development begins

Renderings courtesy of DXA Studio

December 3, 2024

Conversion of Bushwick’s 19th-century William Ulmer Brewery into a mixed-use development begins

By Aaron Ginsburg

Work has begun to transform Bushwick's landmarked William Ulmer Brewery into a mixed-use development. Developed by Rivington Company and designed by DXA Studio, the two-phase project restores the 19th-century building's ground floor and three cellar levels for commercial use, while converting the second, third, fourth, and penthouse levels into apartments. The project will also breathe new life into the building's exterior, with a rehabilitation of its masonry and a new roof.
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Make a wish at a new public art installation in the Financial District

All photos courtesy of Juliet Mueller

November 25, 2024

Make a wish at a new public art installation in the Financial District

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new public art installation shines bright in the Financial District. Created by design studio Hou de Sousa, "Star Light Star Bright" draws inspiration from the cultural tradition of wish trees, where people attach wishes in writing, artwork, ribbons, and cloth, hoping they come true. Located at the plaza in front of 140 Broadway, the immersive installation invites New Yorkers to tie colorful "wish ribbons" to the chain links, growing into a Chia Pet-esque artwork full of hopes and dreams.
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Architecture And Design

NYC’s first pro soccer stadium in Queens to be called ‘Etihad Park’

All renderings courtesy of New York City FC

November 25, 2024

NYC’s first pro soccer stadium in Queens to be called ‘Etihad Park’

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's first professional soccer stadium will be called Etihad Park, named after the airline of the United Arab Emirates. New York City FC on Thursday announced a 20-year agreement with Etihad Airways, granting the airline exclusive naming rights for the 25,000-seat soccer stadium currently under construction in Willets Point, Queens. Set to open in time for the 2027 season, the stadium will become a "cathedral of soccer in the United States," according to NYCFC. The news came ahead of the team's loss to the New York Red Bulls during the MLS Cup Eastern Conference semifinal match on Saturday.
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NYC’s first Passive House public schools open in Downtown Brooklyn

Credit: James Ewing / JBSA

November 21, 2024

NYC’s first Passive House public schools open in Downtown Brooklyn

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's first Passive House-certified public schools have opened in Downtown Brooklyn, setting the bar for sustainable education. Designed by Architecture Research Office (ARO), the ultra-low-energy-use building houses two schools: the Khalil Gibran International Academy, the nation’s first English-Arabic public high school, and the Elizabeth Jennings School for Bold Explorers (aka P.S. 456). Part of the mixed-use development Alloy Block, the facility consumes less than a third of the energy of a typical NYC public school.
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Architecture And Design

Andy Warhol’s Trump Tower painting, which Trump never paid for, sells at auction

Left: Trump Tower via WikiCommons. Right: Andy Warhol’s “New York Skyscrapers,” courtesy of Phillips.

November 19, 2024

Andy Warhol’s Trump Tower painting, which Trump never paid for, sells at auction

By Aaron Ginsburg

An Andy Warhol painting of Trump Tower commissioned by Donald Trump—but never paid for—has sold at auction. Requested in 1981 by the then up-and-coming real estate developer to hang in the lobby of his new Fifth Avenue skyscraper, the artwork is one of eight portraits from Warhol's "New York Skyscrapers" series depicting Trump’s first namesake development. The auction, first reported by Artnet, took place on November 19 at 5 p.m., and sold for $952,000, well beyond its originally projected $500,000 to $700,000 price range.
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Architecture And Design

American Museum of Natural History’s origami holiday tree features 1,000 pouncing paper animals

D. Finnin / ©AMNH

November 18, 2024

American Museum of Natural History’s origami holiday tree features 1,000 pouncing paper animals

By Aaron Ginsburg

The American Museum of Natural History’s beloved Origami Holiday Tree returns this year, featuring over 1,000 hand-folded paper models inspired by the world’s leaping critters. In honor of the leap year's end, this year's theme is "Jumping for Joy," celebrating animals that hop, from rabbits, grasshoppers, and kangaroos to frogs, squirrels, and the newly-discovered leaping leech. The 13-foot tree will be on display in the Ellen V. Futter Gallery on the first floor starting November 25 through mid-January.
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Popular Articles

More public space opens under the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan

Images courtesy of the NYC Department of Transportation

November 18, 2024

More public space opens under the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan

By Aaron Ginsburg

New Yorkers can now enjoy more public space under the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan. The latest phase of "The Arches" opened on Monday, adding 15,000 square feet of park space to an area closed to the public for more than a decade, the city's Department of Transportation announced. The space, now with lush greenery and new seating, had been closed for nearly 15 years while serving as a staging site for several bridge restoration projects. The Arches sits next to the Brooklyn Banks, a haven for skateboarders that partially reopened last year.
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The tallest building in Queens tops out over 800 feet

Images courtesy of Binyan unless otherwise noted

November 14, 2024

The tallest building in Queens tops out over 800 feet

By Aaron Ginsburg

The tallest building in Queens topped out this week at over 823 feet. Developed by BLDG Management Company and designed by Perkins Eastman, the Orchard is a 70-story rental in Long Island City with 824 studio to three-bedroom apartments, 248 of which are designated as affordable. Located at Orchard Street and Jackson Avenue in the Court Square section of the neighborhood, the rental boasts over 100,000 square feet of amenities, including a huge backyard with a swimming pool, three pickleball courts, an outdoor movie theater, and more.
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Architecture And Design

NYBG’s Holiday Train Show is a tribute to NYC’s architectural heritage

A model train passing by the NYC skyline. Courtesy of the New York Botanical Garden

November 13, 2024

NYBG’s Holiday Train Show is a tribute to NYC’s architectural heritage

By Aaron Ginsburg

A quintessential New York City holiday tradition is back for its 33rd year. The New York Botanical Garden's beloved Holiday Train Show enchants guests with G-scale miniature trains that zip through nearly 200 plant-based models of iconic city landmarks, displayed inside the historic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory and outdoors. For the first time, guests can experience the show in a new light with Holiday Train Nights, where the trains and displays twinkle under the night sky. The show runs from November 16 through January 20, 2025.
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$50M penthouse is the last residence available at the Upper East Side’s famed Surrey Hotel

All renderings courtesy of Noë & Associates with V1

November 7, 2024

$50M penthouse is the last residence available at the Upper East Side’s famed Surrey Hotel

By Aaron Ginsburg

Manhattan's famed Surrey Hotel is making a comeback. Following bankruptcy proceedings, new owners, and a renovation, the 100-year-old Art Deco landmark at 20 East 76th Street on the Upper East Side reopened last month as a condo hotel, with 100 hotel rooms and 14 condos, part of the Surrey Residences. Now, after a whisper sales campaign, just one remaining apartment is about to hit the market: a three-bedroom duplex penthouse asking $50,000,000. The sprawling residence, the building's most expensive, offers 5,195 square feet plus 2,346 square feet across three terraces and a private rooftop.
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11 public projects in NYC recognized for excellent design

Renderings courtesy of NYC Parks unless noted otherwise

November 1, 2024

11 public projects in NYC recognized for excellent design

By Aaron Ginsburg

Eleven innovative projects across New York City have been recognized for their contributions to nurturing a more sustainable and engaging public realm. Mayor Eric Adams this week announced the winners of the 42nd annual Awards for Excellence in Design, selected by the city's Public Design Commission (PDC) from hundreds of submissions in 2023. This year's award-winning projects exemplify how urban planning can vastly enhance the daily lives of New Yorkers, transcending mere aesthetics to create resilient infrastructure, foster community bonds, and provide accessible recreational and educational spaces.
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Architecture And Design

Landmarked East Harlem public library reopens after $34M renovation

All photos courtesy of New York Public Library/Jonathan Blanc unless otherwise noted

October 25, 2024

Landmarked East Harlem public library reopens after $34M renovation

By Aaron Ginsburg

After a three-year $34.4 million renovation, a landmarked New York Public Library branch in East Harlem is reopening this month. Designed by McKim, Mead & White in 1904, the building at 224 East 125th Street had fallen into disrepair and had been closed since 2021. The revamped building will celebrate its reopening on October 30 at 10 a.m.
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Sales launch for boutique condos with private outdoor spaces in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, from $835K

Credit: Palette Architecture

October 23, 2024

Sales launch for boutique condos with private outdoor spaces in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, from $835K

By Aaron Ginsburg

Sales launched this week at one part of a unique two-building luxury development in Brooklyn's Prospect Lefferts Gardens neighborhood. Developed by Kingsdel Real Estate and designed by Palette Architecture, Calvert Villas at 624 New York Avenue is a six-story boutique condo building with 10 two- to four-bedroom apartments, each with private outdoor space. Prices start at $835,500.
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Port Authority reveals vision to rebuild Newark Airport

Photo courtesy of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Flickr

October 18, 2024

Port Authority reveals vision to rebuild Newark Airport

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Thursday unveiled the EWR Vision Plan, a long-term project redeveloping Newark Liberty International Airport. The vision includes building a new Terminal B, enhancing Terminal C, fixing the airport's confusing roadway network, and replacing the AirTrain system.
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A bigger and better Pearl Street Triangle plaza opens in Dumbo

Photos by Julienne Schaer

October 18, 2024

A bigger and better Pearl Street Triangle plaza opens in Dumbo

By Devin Gannon

A plaza near the Manhattan Bridge in Dumbo has received a pedestrian-friendly makeover. The Dumbo Improvement District on Friday unveiled the newly designed Dumbo Archway Plaza, which enlarges the Pearl Street Triangle to create more permanent space for the public and less space for vehicles. New sculptural seating, custom umbrellas, and artwork have transformed the underutilized street and parking spot into a large plaza that seamlessly connects to the neighborhood's unofficial town square, the Archway under the Manhattan Bridge.
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Architecture And Design

Bronx Music Hall: The borough’s first new music venue in over 50 years is now open

Photos courtesy of Bronx Music Hall

October 18, 2024

Bronx Music Hall: The borough’s first new music venue in over 50 years is now open

By Aaron Ginsburg

For the first time in over 50 years, a new independent music venue has opened in the Bronx. The Bronx Music Hall on Friday celebrated its grand opening, introducing a new 14,000-square-foot performance hall and community cultural center committed to promoting music, dance, theater, and interdisciplinary arts. Located at 438 East 163rd Street in Melrose, the facility, part of the mixed-use Bronx Commons development, includes a 250-seat theater, a grand lobby and exhibition hall, a multipurpose room and dance studio, and more.
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Architecture And Design

$10B Port Authority Bus Terminal replacement project moves forward

Rendering courtesy of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

October 17, 2024

$10B Port Authority Bus Terminal replacement project moves forward

By Aaron Ginsburg

The $10 billion project to replace the decrepit Port Authority Bus Terminal is moving forward. The City Planning Commission (CPC) on Wednesday voted unanimously to approve the Midtown bus terminal's revamp project, which replaces the dreary, aging 74-year-old facility with a vibrant, modern transit hub featuring ground-floor retail space and a public park. Plans to replace the terminal first surfaced more than 10 years ago to account for the expected growth in ridership. The plan now heads to the City Council for a vote.
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Pier 97 opens in Hudson River Park after $47.5M transformation

Images courtesy of Hudson River Park

October 16, 2024

Pier 97 opens in Hudson River Park after $47.5M transformation

By Aaron Ginsburg

Pier 97, the northernmost pier in Hudson River Park, reopened this week following a $47.5 million transformation. Designed by !melk in collaboration with the Hudson River Park Trust, the project turned a former docking pier and parking lot into 2.5 acres of public open space, complete with a playground, athletic field, sloping sun lawn, and more—all surrounded by over 16,000 square feet of vibrant flowers and plants. A new building with restrooms and concessions is expected to open this winter.
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Architecture And Design

Waldorf Astoria New York’s reopening delayed until spring

Rendering by Noë &Associates / The Boundary

October 15, 2024

Waldorf Astoria New York’s reopening delayed until spring

By Aaron Ginsburg

The reopening of the iconic Waldorf Astoria hotel has been postponed until next spring. The landmarked Midtown East hotel has been closed since 2017 for a major revamp, which includes turning its 1,400 guestrooms into 375 hotel rooms and 375 condo residences, according to Travel Weekly. The building, a New York City icon since it opened its doors in 1931, had most recently aimed to reopen in 2024.
details here

Studio Museum in Harlem will reopen in new building in fall 2025

Photo: © Albert Vecerka/Esto

October 9, 2024

Studio Museum in Harlem will reopen in new building in fall 2025

By Aaron Ginsburg

The Studio Museum in Harlem's new home will officially open next fall, the institution announced Tuesday. Designed by Sir David Adjaye, the building features stacked volumes over five stories and measures 82,000 square feet, increasing exhibition and public space by over 50 percent. Closed since 2018, the 125th Street museum will reopen with a presentation of the work of Tom Lloyd, an artist, educator, and activist featured in the Studio Museum's inaugural 1968 exhibition, held in a rented loft on Fifth Avenue.
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Architecture And Design

Experience the beauty of the Sistine Chapel at new Brooklyn exhibit

All images courtesy of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition®

October 4, 2024

Experience the beauty of the Sistine Chapel at new Brooklyn exhibit

By Aaron Ginsburg

Forget a trip to Vatican City, a captivating new exhibition in Sunset Park brings the breathtaking frescoes of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel to Brooklyn. Debuting on October 11 in Industry City, "Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition" showcases 34 of the chapel's iconic frescoes, meticulously reproduced and enhanced to offer visitors an even more vivid experience. While tourists traveling to Italy must crane their necks 66 feet to view the original frescoes, the exhibition allows visitors to experience their stunning beauty up close.
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