The Seward Green proposal is one of five teams shortlisted in response to the Seward Park RFP, the largest contiguous parcel of underdeveloped City-owned land in Manhattan. The design team was led by Robert Garneau from Grimshaw in collaboration with Dattner as Executive Architect.
The development consists of 1,000 apartments providing a broad range of affordable, senior, rental apartments and condominiums in a variety of living options that include duplexes and micro-apartments; 500,000sf of retail and commercial including the new Essex Street Market as well as local and national retailers including a hotel; and 80,000sf of community facility. The proposal weaves throughout the site extensive landscape and open space elements acting as a “green ribbon”.
The proposal deliberately does not locate a high-rise in the heart of the development in order to create a green, elevated public square called “Seward Green,” combining dense urbanity with a generous public open space with cultural events serving as a strong focal point. Each of the towers has a different scale, form, profile, surface treatment, and materiality to provide variety, orientation, and visual richness. Key features include a large solar array on the south façade and rooftop trellis as well as select units with outdoor terraces clad in wood.