55 Water Street

And The Elevated Acre (Upper Plaza)

Description

Constructed, 1972

This building weighs in as one of the largest office buildings in New York at 3.5 million square feet of office space. It sits on a superblock assembled from four adjoining city blocks. Part of the reason for its bloat is that there is a 'privately owned public space' on its podium over what once was Front Street. There have been several owners and at one point it even had a branch of the Whitney Museum on the lower levels. It survived Superstorm Sandy. The storm surge deposited 32 million gallons of water flooding the three basement levels and part of the lobby.

Elevated Acre, 2005

Adding a 'Zoning Bonus' public plaza to the project meant that 55 Water Street would be able to be much larger. It was renovated into what is often described as one of New York's 'hidden parks and garden oases'. It has become considerably less 'hidden' as Lower Manhattan has been transformed into a residential neighborhood.

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The building sits on a superblock assembled from four adjoining city blocks

The building weighs in as one of the largest office buildings in New York

The 'privately owned public space' on its podium over what once was Front Street

Exterior facade

2005 - Elevated Acre

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2005 - Elevated Acre - Images

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The Elevated Acre is a one-acre garden oasis at 55 Water Street in Manhattan’s Financial District with panoramic views of the Brooklyn Bridge and New York Harbor amidst lush seasonal flora and under the plaza’s beacon tower.

The elevated acre is the site of many public events. Ipe and steel benches sit near the planted "hills," providing moments of relative privacy

The Elevated Acre provides support space for year-round events, additional park amenities and concessions services. The Park is designed to host a wide range of year-round programs from an ice-rink to outdoor amphitheater and wedding receptions.

The design for this elevated plaza transformed a barren, windswept deck into a vibrant, multi-programmed and accessible public park.

A large terraced space with open lawn for performances and organized events

Public space in the heart of the financial district

Sitting atop a parking structure 30 feet above the street

Quiet places to enjoy the view with comfortable seating, and spaces to eat lunch

The site has a commanding view over New York Harbor

The design vocabulary is rooted in an abstraction of the terminal moraine topography that historically typified the geology of the area.

The ground plane of the site was sloped up to create a new horizon line with a series of landscape “dunes”

Often described as one of New York's 'hidden parks and garden oases'.

Series of planted dunes that speak to the site’s proximity to the waterfront and the New York Harbor

The terrace supports a variety of public needs and activities

The Beacon is illuminated by programmable LEDs announcing the park to visitors along the highway, the harbor and across the river in Brooklyn Heights.

The structure allows each panel of glass to be installed within a three-inch tolerance, giving the facade a subtle texture.

Panoramic views of the Brooklyn Bridge and New York Harbor under the plaza’s beacon.

A gleaming cascade of new escalators, stairs and planting beckons pedestrians at street level to discover what may be at the top. Planters and glowing glass panels help break up the ascent from street level. The original park was planned as part of an unrealized ring of pedestrian urban spaces at 33’ above street level.

The base of the tower provides storage for food service and other event support.

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