Project Overview

The South Street Seaport project is bringing a long overdue makeover to the Seaport District of Lower Manhattan. Work began on the 400,000 square foot site in 2013 and will gradually open from April this year. The $785 million project hopes to redesign the seaport into a carefully curated neighborhood that will attract New Yorkers and tourists alike.

Organisation

The Howard Hughes Corporation

Project Context

For many years now, the South Street Seaport has been a tourist-only zone home to nothing but NY T-shirt stalls and suburban chain stores. The South Street Seaport project hopes to usher this once dynamic neighborhood back into the 21st century which a contemporary and sustainable design.

Project Innovation

The main focal point of the seaport revamp is Pier 17, set to become an iconic entertainment destination which will feature a one and a half acre performance and public space on the roof of the building. The space will hold events such as fashion shows, movie screening, concerts, tennis matches and art installations, with a capacity of up to 4,000 people. It will be covered with a robot-built fiber sculpture designed by German artist Achim Menges.
 
Back on the ground, the space will be filled with benches, swing chairs and a river walk, all strategically designed to maintain a view of the water no matter where you are.
 
The landmark Tin Building, erected in 1910, will be taken apart, moved slightly and then painstakingly put back together again to house a food hall and seafood marker curated by Jean-Gorges Vongerichten.
 
The site will be home to several other buildings, including Mr. C Seaport, a 66-room hotel at 33 Peck Slip, the former site of a Best Western hotel, the
US' only location of Carla Sozzani's store 10 Corso Como, live broadcast studios from ESPN, the city's first location of iPic theatres and several other retail and entertainment locations.
 
This re-envisioned Seaport District hopes to function as a modern cultural hub and a welcome residential solution to the growing population of Lower Manhattan.

Howard Hughes Corporation and Live Nation Entertainment will reportedly bring open-air concerts to Pier 17 in Howard Hughes’ redeveloped Seaport District beginning this summer. The musical lineup for the inaugural season at the rooftop venue, which will accommodate 3,400 standing or, alternatively, 2,400 seated, will be announced May 7.

Design Challenge

Achim Menges' illuminated transparent canopy sculpture which will cover the 1.5-acre rooftop of Pier 17 is both lightweight, as it must stand on the top of the building, and durable, so as to stand up to gale force winds. The sculpture has also been designed in a way that provides shade and protection to patrons whilst also preserving the incredible views of the Brooklyn Bridge.