UN-City
ConEdison Waterside Development Plan
New York, NY

5.2 million SF • WITH OMA, KPF, TOYO ITO, ARUP & THE OLIN PARTNERSHIP

Davis Brody Bond collaborated with OMA, Kohn Pederson Fox, Toyo Ito, Arup, and the Olin Partnership on this master plan for the largest remaining undeveloped site in Manhattan. Davis Brody Bond brought its unparalleled depth of experience in residential and mixed-use construction in New York City to the team, as well as an ability to work with advanced design concepts and translate them into believable proposals.

The ConEdison site occupies nine acres on the East River directly south of the United Nations. Our team’s plan combines 5.2 million square feet of residential, office, and retail spaces with public parks and transportation connections to envision an unprecedented but totally convincing new neighborhood for New York.

We began by analyzing the uses and demographics surrounding the site and asking how these conditions could be extended to the River in new and effective ways. This generated the basic development move: a program-packed “Wedge” that extends up and over the barrier of FDR Drive to reconnect the public with the water. The Wedge is also a platform for a composition of striking towers that celebrate New York’s endlessly varied skyline. Each tower provides a different mix of living, working, and public programs, creating a cluster of distinct high-rise cultures. The unexpected imagery of our proposal is fully supported by assessment of real estate norms, construction practicalities, and transport access. We also incorporated major sustainability measures including large-scale cogeneration, water reclamation, and restored river habitats.

(Renderings and conceptual diagrams by DBB + OMA)