 The Upper Room is a collonaded court marking the entrance to the Esplanade at Albany Street. This self-contained sculptural environment suggests a contemporary re-imagining of an ancient Egyptian temple. Inside, it features a long table adorned with chess boards, twelve stools, and an altar-like pergola sheltering an iconic palm tree. 

Offering stylized sanctuary from the surrounding city&amp;nbsp;  

Designed to be both functional and symbolic, The Upper Room lends an appealing air of ceremony, harmony, and mystery to its site.   the Battery Park City Parks Conservancy

recalling a fusion of decorative palm trees and Near Eastern architecture.  

The Upper Room

 Dorothea Basile, Contemporary art historian at the Battery Park City shares some thoughts about Ned Smyth's design. Meant to highlight the moment when street meets park, the open air court is inspired by the architecture of ancient civilizations. It steps down into the River and can be thought of as a window onto the river. She talks about the sculptural and architectural elements choice of materials. 