New York, New York, USA
Designed by Handel Architects and developed by Gotham Organization, RiseBoro Community Partnership, Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group, and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the 57-story 559-foot tall skyscraper in the Gotham Point development in Hunters Point South, Queens.
Gotham Point is the reinforced concrete structure that will yield 689 units alongside a 1,100-seat Intermediate High School built by the School Construction Authority, and Parcel G, its 33-story, 336-foot tall, 443-unit sibling.
Gotham Point is located at the confluence of the East River and Newtown Creek, bound by Center Boulevard to the north, 56th Avenue to the east, and 57th Avenue to the west.
The project marks the last major development in the transformation of this waterfront area of Long Island City into a vibrant and sustainable mixed-use community, which to date has included infrastructure and roadway improvements, a waterfront park, a new school, and thousands of new residences.
The new towers emerge from Hunter’s Point South Park, a new 10-acre park that lines the waterfront.
The buildings have been designed to embrace the park as much as possible, with indoor/outdoor spaces that spill into the landscaping, and an interiors approach based on the plantings found in the park.
The bigger tower includes separate entrances for the apartments and the senior units, as well as a through-block community facility space.
The smaller tower includes entrances for its own residential units, as well as community spaces for Flux Factory and for kayak-rental.
Residential amenities include a fitness center, a variety of outdoor areas, lounges, and co-working spaces.
The senior units will have their own dedicated amenities, including a lounge, library, community space, and outdoor patio.
A rooftop urban farm will be publicly accessible.
The shaping and materiality of both buildings were selected to relate to the variety of buildings that have been built along the Queens waterfront.
The upper base of the taller tower rises to various heights along all sides, creating a sense of rhythm. Glass reveals break apart the massing.
A sharply angled form emphasizes the tower’s top and marks the building on the skyline.
In contrast, the smaller tower is more rectilinear, with a series of reveals that cut into the massing and break it apart.
The rooftop of the Manhattan-facing side is carved away to create a terrace that will be useable by residents of both towers.
Three varying colors of red brick define the volumes while providing visual coherence.
The taller tower is “wrapped” on the northeast and southwest corners by a red brick lattice, expressed with oversized rectangular openings.
The upper base of the smaller tower is primarily a mix of red brick, with glass reveals breaking up the massing.
The dark brick and white metal panel of the tower defines the building architecturally.
The language of the tower also breaks apart the upper base on the south-facing elevation and is carried all the way to the street.
The all-glass corner of the taller tower is set back from the street, providing pedestrian breathing room. The design breaks the street-level experience into a series of smaller elements.
Framing these spaces are columns of brick, accented with single bands of horizontal brick in a contrasting color.
Stone bases anchor the brick columns, while entrances are capped with black metal louvers and suspended metal canopies, in appreciation for the area’s industrial past.
Project: Gotham Point
Architects: Handel Architects
Clients: Gotham Organization, RiseBoro Community Partnership, Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group, and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD)
