New Megaproject Proposed for NYC Skyline

Design Features and Amenities

The new megaproject in New York City, designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), will consist of two 615-foot-tall towers connected by a skybridge. The development will include two hotels, restaurants, bars, an art gallery, and a glass-floored viewing platform. There are also plans for a subterranean casino, pending a license.

Additionally, the project includes two new residential towers and a three-block-long public park called Freedom Plaza. The skyscrapers will flank the park, which will feature retail spaces and a new Museum of Freedom and Democracy.

One of the standout features of the development is a 150,000-gallon rooftop infinity pool located on the skybridge. BIG describes it as one of the largest rooftop pools in North America.

Architectural Inspiration

Bjarke Ingels, the founder of BIG, drew inspiration from the neighboring UN building by extending the greenery in the design. The project aims to create a green connection from 1st Avenue to the East River overlook.

The two residential towers, measuring 550 and 650 feet tall, pay homage to the modernist buildings of the 1950s and 1960s with their striped glass and aluminum facades. They will be connected at ground level by a podium housing a food market and retail space.

Affordable Housing and Community Fund

The development has faced local opposition, but the Soloviev Group, the property developer behind the project, has proposed designating 513 apartments as affordable housing if the casino license is granted. They have also committed to donating a portion of the gaming profits to an independently run non-profit community fund.

This is especially significant considering the current housing market challenges in New York City, with rental vacancy rates at a multi-decade low. The Soloviev Group's commitment to affordable housing and community support demonstrates their desire to benefit the local neighborhood and the city as a whole.