Architecture And Design

A public artwork you can play with comes to Union Square

Photos by Jane Kratochvil, courtesy of Union Square Partnership

June 15, 2026

A public artwork you can play with comes to Union Square

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new interactive public sculpture designed by Fashion Institute of Technology students opened at University Plaza in Union Square last week. Created in collaboration with the Union Square Partnership (USP), "Bead Maze" reimagines a doctor’s waiting-room toy as a large-scale artwork featuring interactive plywood beads connected by bent steel pipes and a color palette inspired by the vibrancy of the Union Square Greenmarket. The project, located between 13th and 14th Streets, was brought to life by design collective Scale Rule, which works pro bono to help realize student concepts through design, fabrication, and installation.
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Architecture And Design

NYC unveils the first look at the future of sidewalk sheds

Photos courtesy of Gabrielle Beaumont

June 15, 2026

NYC unveils the first look at the future of sidewalk sheds

By Aaron Ginsburg

Two of six prototype sidewalk sheds that forgo the traditional unsightly design have been installed outside the Department of Buildings headquarters in Lower Manhattan. Designed by Arup, the sheds provide additional space to improve circulation and increase light for visibility, while enhancing the streetscape with a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. The structures, on view in front of 280 Broadway for 30 days, are a first look at new shed designs, required by a law passed by the City Council last year.
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Historic Carroll Street Bridge in Gowanus reopens after 5-year renovation

The new Carroll Street Bridge in retracted position. Credit: NYC DOT

June 11, 2026

Historic Carroll Street Bridge in Gowanus reopens after 5-year renovation

By Aaron Ginsburg

The 137-year-old Carroll Street Bridge in Gowanus will reopen next week after a five-year rehabilitation, with access limited to pedestrians, cyclists, and emergency vehicles. The city's Department of Transportation on Wednesday announced that the historic 1889 structure—one of just four remaining retractile bridges in the country—will reopen on June 15. The trapezoid-shaped one-lane bridge, closed since 2021, has been locked in an open position throughout the rehabilitation and barred to all vehicular traffic.
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Architecture And Design

SHoP Architects to design new Gotham FC training hub in NJ

Renderings courtesy of SHoP Architects

June 11, 2026

SHoP Architects to design new Gotham FC training hub in NJ

By Aaron Ginsburg

Gotham Football Club has tapped renowned architectural firm SHoP Architects to design a new $35 million training facility in New Jersey for the championship-winning women's soccer team. Announced on Wednesday, the project will transform the former New York Red Bulls training facility in Whippany into a purpose-built training hub focused on player performance, recovery, and well-being, making it one of the first facilities to meet the National Women’s Soccer League’s new training standards. Renovations are expected to begin later this summer, with completion targeted for summer 2027.
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Architecture And Design

23 soccer ball sculptures installed across NYC and NJ ahead of World Cup

All photos courtesy of ARTS 14C

June 10, 2026

23 soccer ball sculptures installed across NYC and NJ ahead of World Cup

By Aaron Ginsburg

Twenty-three soccer ball sculptures are popping up across New York City and New Jersey to celebrate the arrival of the FIFA World Cup this week. The initiative, dubbed "Art of the Game," includes large-scale public artworks by internationally recognized artists on major streets, parks, museums, and watch party locations across all five boroughs and New Jersey. The sculptures will remain on view through Labor Day; 12 of the works will be installed permanently, and five will be auctioned for charity through Christie’s.
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Architecture And Design

Amtrak reveals first renderings of the new Penn Station

Renderings courtesy of PAU and Penn Transformation Partners

June 9, 2026

Amtrak reveals first renderings of the new Penn Station

By Devin Gannon

A few weeks after announcing the master developer for the redevelopment of Penn Station, Amtrak released the first renderings of the project on Monday. Penn Transformation Partners (PTP), a joint venture led by Halmar and Skanska, is leading the long-awaited redesign of the detested Midtown commuter hub, which aims to transform the station from cramped, dark, and overcrowded into a modern, light-filled civic landmark that can serve 600,000 daily commuters. The overhaul could cost $8 billion; construction is expected to begin late next year.
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Swirling street mural in Hudson Square ‘flows’ with the movement of pedestrians

Photos courtesy of Just A Spectator

June 9, 2026

Swirling street mural in Hudson Square ‘flows’ with the movement of pedestrians

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new asphalt mural in Hudson Square turns pedestrian movement into bold, swirling stripes of rainbow colors. Unveiled Monday by the Hudson Square Business Improvement District (HSBID), “Urban Flow” by Dasic Fernández spans Little Sixth Avenue and Dominick Street, featuring an evolving network of colorful bands that expand and contract to reflect patterns of circulation and gathering. The mural is intended to complement the future Hudson Square Plaza, a 6,000-square-foot public space set to open this summer.
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Architecture And Design

Free rooftop tours open at Manhattan Municipal Building

Photos courtesy of NYC DCAS

June 5, 2026

Free rooftop tours open at Manhattan Municipal Building

By Devin Gannon

The 36th-floor cupola of New York City's historic David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building will open to the public for the first time next week. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services on Thursday opened reservations for the "Centre 360" experience, a free rooftop tour of the century-old Beaux-Arts government building at 1 Centre Street. The cupola offers 360-degree views nearly 600 feet above the city, with many iconic landmarks in full view. Originally intended to be accessible to the public when the building opened in 1914, the cupola has been off-limits for nearly 100 years. Tours begin June 11, with tickets becoming available on the first day of each month.
how to book

Former Planned Parenthood clinic in Noho will be converted to luxury condos

Rendering of the proposed building from Bleecker and Mott Streets. Credit: BKSK Architects

June 3, 2026

Former Planned Parenthood clinic in Noho will be converted to luxury condos

By Aaron Ginsburg

The former home of Manhattan's only Planned Parenthood clinic in Noho is set to become luxury condos. The Landmarks Preservation Commission this week approved a plan to convert the Classical Revival-style commercial building at 26 Bleecker Street into 15 luxury condominium residences. Planned Parenthood, which first moved to the building in 1989, sold the property last year to Israeli development firm Izaki Group Investments for $38.1 million. The nonprofit, which officially shut down operations at the building last October, cited increasing financial and political pressures as reasons for selling.
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NYC reopens Orchard Beach Pavilion after 17 years and $114M restoration

Credit: Marvel

May 29, 2026

NYC reopens Orchard Beach Pavilion after 17 years and $114M restoration

By Aaron Ginsburg

The historic Orchard Beach Pavilion in the Bronx partially reopened to the public earlier this month, restoring access to the landmarked beachfront destination for the first time in 17 years after a $114 million reconstruction. Beginning in December 2022, work on the 140,000-square-foot project involved preserving the pavilion’s 1930s-era architecture while adding new community amenities and accessibility upgrades. The seaside landmark, located at the only public beach in the Bronx, reopened ahead of the summer season and the opening of city beaches last weekend. Additional features remain under construction, with a full reopening expected later this summer.
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Architecture And Design

Popular Articles

Work on skate park in Mount Prospect Park could begin next spring

Renderings courtesy of NYC Parks

May 22, 2026

Work on skate park in Mount Prospect Park could begin next spring

By Aaron Ginsburg

Work on an $11 million skatepark in Brooklyn's Mount Prospect Park could begin next spring after New York City’s Public Design Commission and the local community board approved the project last month. Known as the Brooklyn Skate Garden, the project is one of four skateparks planned across the five boroughs through a partnership with legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk to bring public skating facilities to underserved communities. Originally planned at roughly 40,000 square feet, the park was scaled back to 19,500 square feet following opposition from some residents, according to BKReader.
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Architecture And Design

‘Summer House’ set designer kept it ‘classy’ for highly anticipated reunion

“Summer House” season 9 “Snoozefest” reunion. All photos courtesy of Scott Sicari

May 21, 2026

‘Summer House’ set designer kept it ‘classy’ for highly anticipated reunion

About two decades ago, Scott Sicari was approached to design a reunion set for a show called “Manhattan Moms." "We set up in the Russian Tea Room with some guy that nobody knew named Andy Cohen,” he said. The show, rebranded as "The Real Housewives of New York City,” would become a cornerstone of the Bravo reality TV phenomenon. Sicari has stayed for the ride. "It’s been a nice, really unexpected, beautiful twist in my career," he said.
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NYC reveals design proposals for Billie Holiday monument in Queens

May 19, 2026

NYC reveals design proposals for Billie Holiday monument in Queens

By Aaron Ginsburg

More than seven years after it was first commissioned, a monument honoring Billie Holiday in New York City is moving forward. The city's Department of Cultural Affairs on Tuesday unveiled proposals from six artists for a new permanent artwork celebrating the jazz legend that will be installed at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center in Queens. The monument is part of a long-delayed effort to increase the representation of influential women in public spaces across the five boroughs. The public can review the proposals and submit feedback through the end of May. An artist will be chosen this summer.
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First look at Paragon, Long Island City’s first new waterfront condo in a decade

Renderings courtesy of Redundant Pixel unless otherwise noted.

May 19, 2026

First look at Paragon, Long Island City’s first new waterfront condo in a decade

By Aaron Ginsburg

Here's an exclusive look at the first new condo development built on the Long Island City waterfront in more than a decade. Developed by ZD Jasper and designed by Archimaera, the 23-story Paragon at 45-40 Vernon Boulevard incorporates the historic Paragon Paint Factory into the tower's base. Residences will range from studios to four-bedrooms and feature interiors by March and White Design (MAWD), with ceiling heights of up to 10 feet and floor-to-ceiling windows offering up views of the Manhattan skyline and East River. Adjacent to Anable Basin, the project also includes a large public open space with a waterfront park and walkway connecting the neighborhood to the East River.
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NYCxDESIGN 2026: 12 can’t-miss picks from New York City’s annual festival of design

Photo courtesy of NYCxDesign

May 14, 2026

NYCxDESIGN 2026: 12 can’t-miss picks from New York City’s annual festival of design

By Michelle Cohen

Each spring, the spotlight returns to New York City as a major hub for global design. The 2026 NYCxDESIGN Festival runs from May 14 to May 20, drawing over 163,000 industry pros, brands, designers, creators, and lovers of interior design from all corners of the world and from the city's own vibrant design scene. Anchored by iconic trade fairs and exhibitions like ICFF and WANTED, a full calendar of tours, talks, and product debuts will be happening throughout the five boroughs. The festival offers a sneak peek at tomorrow’s design trends and provides a chance to discover new talent in the worlds of furniture, lighting, textiles, and objects. Read on for a guide to this year's top design fair picks.
a short list of design must-sees, this way

Lincoln Center breaks ground on accessible performance park, anchored by new amphitheater

Aerial view from Amsterdam Avenue, looking east. All renderings by Brooklyn Digital Foundry.

May 13, 2026

Lincoln Center breaks ground on accessible performance park, anchored by new amphitheater

By Devin Gannon

Lincoln Center on Monday broke ground on a $335 million project that will transform the campus into an accessible performance arts park. The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Lincoln Center West Initiative reimagines the Amsterdam Avenue side of the campus by removing the wall at Damrosch Park and replacing it with a more welcoming edge that connects to the rest of the institution. The redeveloped Damrosch Park will be centered around the Baron Theater, a 2,000-person outdoor venue that will be Lincoln Center's first new freestanding theater in 50 years, and an inviting open plaza surrounded by gardens, groves, and a new water feature. The opening is scheduled for summer 2028.
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A short history of New York City’s foul air shafts

Photo by Bikes And Books on Flickr

May 11, 2026

A short history of New York City’s foul air shafts

By Cait Etherington

If you think there is nothing worse than renting an apartment with windows and no view, think again. At one point in the city’s history, where one may now enjoy a small sliver of daylight and at least some fresh air, there was no light or air at all. Indeed, tenants’ windows looked out onto slits—sometimes a mere 28 inches wide—that were teeming with waste, rancid smells, and noise.
on the history of NYC air shafts

This year’s 14th Street Busway mural urges New Yorkers to ‘get outside’

Photos by Colossal Media

May 5, 2026

This year’s 14th Street Busway mural urges New Yorkers to ‘get outside’

By Aaron Ginsburg

With spring weather finally blossoming in New York City, so too has the annual mural on Union Square’s 14th Street Busway. Now in its sixth year, the corridor has received a vibrant makeover, this time featuring artist Shantell Martin’s “Get Outside,” a mural encouraging viewers to reconnect with the outdoors and their communities while celebrating Union Square’s historic role as a hub for gatherings. The 7,500-square-foot artwork was hand-painted by Brooklyn-based Colossal Media and is part of Merrell’s “Outside in the City” program, which frames the outdoors as a vital part of city life rather than a distant destination.
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Architecture And Design

New sculpture in FiDi honors ‘Little Syria,’ NYC’s first Arabic-speaking community

Photos courtesy of NYC Parks / Daniel Avila, unless noted otherwise

May 1, 2026

New sculpture in FiDi honors ‘Little Syria,’ NYC’s first Arabic-speaking community

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new public art installation in Lower Manhattan pays tribute to "Little Syria," New York City’s first Arabic-speaking community, which was displaced in the 1940s when the area was largely demolished to make way for the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel. On Thursday, the city’s Parks Department unveiled “Al Qalam: Poets in the Park” by artist Sara Ouhaddou at Elizabeth H. Berger Plaza in the Financial District. The piece honors the once-thriving neighborhood, which from the 1880s to the 1940s was home to a vibrant community of influential poets and writers. Ouhaddou reflects on that legacy through abstract calligraphy inspired by Islamic architecture, with the names of nine notable authors inscribed on the sculpture’s surface.
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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

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