1CITY 1AMSTERDAM

Cuny Redevelopment Rfp Submission

LINCOLN SQUARE / NEW YORK, NY

PROJECT INFORMATION:

WORK TYPE: PROFESSIONAL / ARCHITECTURE IN FORMATION

CLIENT: CUNY / RADSON DEVELOPMENT

DATE COMPLETED: MARCH 2023

ROLE: PROJECT MANAGER / PROJECT ARCHITECT

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

1 CITY IS A UNIQUE LEED GOLD REDEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL FOR CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK’S ONE AMSTERDAM SITE. OCCUPYING ALMOST HALF OF A CITY BLOCK, 1 CITY SITS ON A MASSIVE SITE THAT IS 375’ LONG BY 200’ WIDE ALONG AMSTERDAM AVENUE BETWEEN 59TH AND 60TH STREET IN LINCOLN SQUARE. ENVISIONED AS A HUB OF ACTIVITY AND LEARNING, 1 CITY IS A 40-STORY RESIDENTIAL TOWER ON TOP OF AN ACADEMIC BASE, WHERE CUNY WILL FILL THE MAJORITY OF THE BUILDING’S BASE, OCCUPYING THE CELLAR THROUGH THE SIXTH FLOOR. MARKED BY ECONOMIC INEQUALITY AND AN UNPRECEDENTED HOUSING CRISIS, 1 CITY WILL BE AN IMPACTFUL NEW DEVELOPMENT WITH 491 UNITS OF DESPERATELY NEEDED 100% AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING, CONSISTING OF 62 STUDIOS, 256 ONEBEDROOMS, 133 TWO-BEDROOMS, AND 40 THREE-BEDROOMS.

ALONG 59TH STREET, A LARGE SINGLE-POINT ENTRY TO THE CUNY ACADEMIC FACILITY, BOTH CEREMONIAL AND EFFICIENT, IS PLACED MIDBLOCK AND TAPERS EAST TO WELCOME COMMUTERS ARRIVING FROM COLUMBUS CIRCLE. AMSTERDAM AVENUE, A LARGE SUNKEN PUBLIC PLAZA IS LOCATED OUTSIDE 1 TABLE, A LARGE FLEXIBLE FOOD HALL. ALONG 60TH STREET, THE RESIDENTIAL ENTRANCE IS PLACED BESIDE SEVERAL OTHER MID-RISE AND HIGH-RISE RESIDENTIAL TOWERS. THE MULTI-HEIGHT RESIDENTIAL TOWER ABOVE THE CUNY BASE IS BROKEN UP INTO FIVE VERTICAL SEGMENTS AND THREE HORIZONTAL SEGMENTS TO CAPTURE PREMIUM VIEWS AND ACCESS TO SUNLIGHT. TOWARDS THE NORTHEAST ARE EXCELLENT VIEWS OF CENTRAL PARK AND TOWARDS THE SOUTHWEST ARE WATERFRONT VIEWS OF THE HUDSON RIVER.

WHEN ENTERING CUNY, THERE IS A DRAMATIC 7-STORY DAYLIT ATRIUM THAT TERRACES FROM THE LIBRARY IN THE CELLAR TO THE ACADEMIC BLOCK ABOVE CONNECTED WITH A CEREMONIAL STAIR. THE ATRIUM PROVIDES AN OPTIMAL SOCIAL EXPERIENCE THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO DAYLIGHT, INTUITIVE CIRCULATION, AND COMMUNAL INTERACTION. BY MAXIMIZING LIGHT AND AIR IN THE CENTER OF A MASSIVE FACILITY, THE ATRIUM REDUCES DEPENDANCE ON ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING, ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO TAKE STAIRS, AND PROVIDES A WAYFINDING DEVICE FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF, AND VISITORS. CUNY’S PROGRAM INCLUDES SEVERAL CLASSROOMS, OFFICES, STUDENT ACTIVITIES, ACADEMIC SUPPORT, A LIBRARY, LARGE EVENT SPACE, AND PRIVATE OUTDOOR TERRACE.

THE RESIDENTIAL FLOORS ABOVE ARE DESIGNED FOR MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF HPD COMPLIANCE, ACTIVE DESIGN GUIDELINES, AND QUALITY HOUSING STANDARDS. THE INTERIOR CORRIDORS ARE A GENEROUS 5’ IN WIDTH, AND NATURALLY LIT WITH WINDOWS AT THE END OF EACH CORRIDOR AND AT INTERMITTENT LOUNGE SPACES AT THE OUTSIDE CORNER OF EACH TOWER SEGMENT. RESIDENTIAL AMENITIES INCLUDE COWORKING SPACES, COOLING CENTERS, BIKE STORAGE, INDOOR AND OUTDOOR RECREATION SPACES, OUTDOOR TERRACES, A COMMUNITY GARDEN, LAUNDRY ROOM, DAY CARE FACILITY, CHILDREN’S PLAY AREA, AND GYM. ON THE ROOF OF THE PODIUM, THERE IS A PARK-SIZED TERRACE OVER 32,000 SQUARE FEET FOR RESIDENTIAL USE. THE WEST PART OF THE TERRACE 7TH FLOOR TERRACE IS DEDICATED TO OUTDOOR LOUNGE SPACES, BBQ GRILLS, DINING, AND AN OUTDOOR EVENT SPACE. THE SOUTHERN PORTION IS FOR OUTDOOR FITNESS EQUIPMENT THAT IS AN EXTENSION OF THE INDOOR GYM. THE NORTH SIDE IS EXCLUSIVELY FOR OUTDOOR MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT. IN ADDITION TO THE PARK-SIZED TERRACE ON THE 7TH FLOOR, THE RESIDENTIAL TOWER INCLUDES SMALLER, MORE INTIMATE TERRACES WITH DEDICATED USES ON THE 23RD, 31ST, 35TH, AND 38TH FLOOR.