Archinect - News

Michael Kimmelman checks in on a case study for affordable housing in NYC

2024-02-13T17:49:00-05:00

It wasn’t a visual spectacle, but it was handsome and dignified, standing out with its prefab metal facade not just in a neighborhood of empty lots, aging apartment blocks and derelict rail tracks but also against a backdrop of dreary, bare-bones affordable housing developments all across the city. Most important, its goal was larger than itself: to reimagine subsidized housing for a new century. I promised in that column to report back on whether it succeeded. Did it?

The Via Verde redux is an interesting return to Kimmelman's very first Times column. He wrote the housing scheme’s developer Phipps “knows what it’s doing.”

Whatever is working has got to be scaled up and replicated rather quickly. As he points out, both the city and New York State failed to adequately fund and approve new housing starts to enter the construction pipeline in 2023 despite a present need for approximately 50,000 new units annually.

Kimmelman, whose personal mission to raise housing standards for New Yorkers is well known, is occasionally charged with promotionalism for writing such pieces. (It's worth noting that this is now the critic's second review of a completed Dattner project in as many years.)

Grimshaw announces new foundation aimed at inclusivity, youth engagement

2022-07-12T06:00:00-04:00

The new charitable arm of Grimshaw Architects has been announced by its founder at an event held last week at the Royal Academy of Arts in London.

The newly-formed Grimshaw Foundation is aimed at promoting inclusivity and will serve a broader purpose to “engage and encourage young people to discover the value of creativity and the inspiration of art.”

Its genesis is the product of more than a year’s worth of coordination between Grimshaw founder Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, the firm’s leadership, and an advisory committee that includes Bartlett honorary professor Neil Pinder.

Grimshaw Foundation board of trustees. Image courtesy Grimshaw Foundation

Speaking in a press release last week, the 82-year-old Grimshaw outlined his goals for the new entity, saying “what the Foundation will do is enable young people, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, to experience the art of making and the making of art and introduce more opportunities and different career paths — opening up th...

Grimshaw tapped to design first of four metaverse spaces for pax.world

2022-04-14T14:27:00-04:00

A noteworthy development in the expanding field of digital architecture as Grimshaw has been tapped to design their first-ever blockchain project for the forthcoming metaverse platform pax.world.

The endeavor will be the first of four ‘Metaserai’ metaverses that take their name from ancient trade-friendly roadside inns called Caravanserai which carry a symbolic significance to the platform’s digital commerce-oriented mission. In the quest for further development of its nascent 20,000-parcel footprint, pax.world will lean on Grimshaw’s long-established history of working on design’s cutting edge to attract prospective buyers as it begins the initial sale of land parcels ahead of an official public launch set for later this summer.

“From our founding, Grimshaw has led the design and architecture industry in the development of buildings that are adaptable, consider change, flexibility of use, and sustainable principles to extend their life and use,” Grimshaw Chairman Andrew Whalley sai...

New LAX Airport Metro Connector station expected to break ground this fall

2021-05-03T12:37:00-04:00

A vote taken last week by the Metro Board of Directors approved a nearly $900 million budget for the long-awaited rail link to LAX, setting the stage for work to begin for the new light rail station in coming months. The Airport Metro Connector, planned for a 9.5-acre site at the intersection of Aviation Boulevard and 96th Streets, will connect Metro's Crenshaw/LAX and Green (C) Lines with the airport's new automated people mover system.

Grimshaw Architects is in charge of the station's design. It will include: a 16-bay bus plaza with capacity for charging infrastructure, a multi-level active transportation and bike hub, a vehicle drop-off zone, a customer service center, public toilet facilities beyond the fare paid zone, commercial space, and a sculpture by Los Angeles artist Glenn Kaino.

Early site work for the Airport Metro Connector station is reportedly expected to begin in May. Following that, a full construction contract is scheduled to be granted in Summer 2021, which would allow for the station to officially break ground in the Fall.

Construction of the new station will likely overlap with the launch of the currently under-construction Crenshaw/LAX line. This would mark another setback for the line, which was originally expected to open in 2019.

The Airport Metro Connector station’s nearly $900 million budget is a more than $260 million increase from a previous estimate of $637 million. Construction of ...

Grimshaw's mangrove tree-inspired design proposal wins international Shenzhen airport and transport hub competition

2021-04-14T15:51:00-04:00

Grimshaw adds another transportation hub to their portfolio after being selected as winners of an international competition for Shenzhen Airport East Integrated Transport Hub. Sponsored by the China National Railway Corporation Limited and Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, the winning proposal answered the brief's call for "an aspirational vision to create an integrated intermodal transport hub to act as a new urban gateway and landmark for the Greater Bay Area."

Shenzhen Transportation Hub - "A design consortium led by Grimshaw, alongside Mott MacDonald, China Aviation Planning and Design Institute (AVIC CAPDI) and Beijing Urban Construction Design and Development Group (BJUCD) has been selected as the winner of an international competition for Shenzhen Airport East Integrated Transport Hub." Image and text courtesy of Grimshaw

Shenzhen transportation Hub. Image courtesy of Grimshaw

Aiding in the transportation of a thousand daily commuters, Grimshaw shares the proposal will p...

Grimshaw unveils design for new Santa Monica College arts complex

2020-06-05T12:27:00-04:00

Grimshaw, in collaboration with Little Diversified Architectural Consulting as architect of record has unveiled the initial designs of the new 21,000-square-foot arts complex for Santa Monica College (SMC) in Southern California. The building will replace an existing car park and serve as the western "gateway" for the school.

Grimshaw worked closely with SMC arts faculty to create an open program that encourages cross-disciplinary discovery and engagement. "Working alongside the arts faculty of SMC to design a building that bolsters their visionary take on the importance of the arts in an evolving entrepreneurial landscape has been inspiring and energizing," said Andrew Byrne, a Managing Partner at the Grimshaw LA studio in a statement. "We are excited to work with such a supportive college to create this landmark building for the community."

The design is composed of three distinctive volumes that are linked by overhead exterior shaded spaces. The external circulation of the comple...

Grimshaw Architects-designed Heathrow Airport expansion moves forward

2019-06-18T14:58:00-04:00

London's Heathrow Airport has unveiled a transformative, Grimshaw Architects-designed masterplan proposal that could reshape the airport as well as its immediate surroundings.

As part of the plan, airport authorities aim to open a third runway to the north of the London airport by 2026, followed by incremental improvements due to come online over the following two decades. Ultimately, the plan is expected to be fully implemented by 2050.

Interior view of one of the proposed terminals. Image courtesy of © Heathrow Airport Limited 2019.

According to the plan, the runway will be placed atop an existing highway and will also extend across a nearby river. In order to construct the runway, the airport will also need to demolish 750 homes, including the entire village of Longford, CNN reports.

Map depicting a new green loop and other improvements to be created as part of the plan. Image courtesy of © Heathrow Airport Limited 2019.

The plan envisions completely transforming and reprogrammi...

New Miami Frost Science Museum faces lawsuit from contractor Skanska over unpaid bills

2018-04-25T16:14:00-04:00

The Frost Science Museum has been open for nearly a year, and it’s already been visited by almost 1 million people. But it’s not finished, and the nonprofit and the general contractor are fighting over who should pay to complete the work. The museum faces a lawsuit from its main contractor claiming the nonprofit unfairly held back payments and left construction work undone as budget strains forced it to cut costs in the final months of building the mostly tax-funded $300 million project [...].

"Frost is already in litigation with its original contractor, Suffolk Construction, which the museum fired in 2014, two years after starting one of the most complicated construction projects in the Southeast," the Miami Herald reports.

Grimshaw Architects designed the ambitious museum complex in downtown Miami after winning the architectural competition in 2007.

100 renderings of ideas to solve London's housing crisis released

2015-09-17T07:12:00-04:00

The international competition organized by think-tank New London Architecture and the Mayor of London has released 100 renderings of proposed solutions to London's housing crisis. Attracting over 200 entries from 16 countries around the world, the competition includes submissions from respected London-based architectural firms including dRMM, Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners, and Grimshaw Architects.

The ideas cover a variety of conceptual ground, although the innovative use and repurposing/modification of existing spaces appears in numerous renderings, as shown in the entries of Akira Yamanaka and Hal Architects:

Several proposals make use of the Thames and other waterways to create floating housing, such as these renderings from Baca Architects and dRMM:

Starting on October 15th, the 100 shortlisted entries will be on public display for free at the NLA galleries in The Building Centre near Russell Square, and ten winners will be announced by the end of October. Those winners will be...

Grimshaw + Gruen's L.A. Union Station Master Plan approved for implementation

2014-10-28T13:20:00-04:00

The L.A. Metro Board of Directors officially approved the Los Angeles Union Station Master Plan in downtown L.A. to advance from planning to implementation. For the past two years, Metro has worked with a consultant team led by Grimshaw Architects and Gruen Associates to expand the iconic station, which is registered as a national historical landmark. Since Union Station opened in 1939, ridership continues to approach 110,000 trips per day and is expected to increase up to nearly 197,000 per day by 2040. L.A. Metro purchased the station in 2011.

The master plan development program consists of 3.25 million sq. feet of the Union Station property. The plan includes the preservation of the historic station, renovations to the station's perimeter, and adding new commercial developments like retail, hotel, and housing.

With today's approval, Metro can begin its initial implementation strategy for near-term projects, which includes a programmatic environmental review of the recommended trans...

Nicholas Grimshaw to offer mentorships to emerging architects in Manchester’s NOISE Festival 2014

2014-06-18T21:02:00-04:00

Every year since 2005, the Manchester-based NOISE Festival gives thousands of aspiring architects the opportunity to get their portfolios recognized by some of the design industry's most well-known names. The nationwide Festival, which takes places online and through exclusive events, showcases undiscovered talent in over 14 categories including Architecture, Design, Illustration, Games, Fashion, Music, Fine Art, and Film.

Among the panel of noteworthy Curators who will judge the submissions, British architect Nicholas Grimshaw of Grimshaw Architects is this year's Architecture Curator. He'll be offering a one-on-one mentorship to five entrants whose submissions he rates the highest.

If you're eager to join, do it now -- it's free and open to all ages! The deadline has been extended to July 6, 2014.

Head over to Bustler to find out more.

London Crystal Palace shortlist boasts six of the UK’s top architects

2014-02-26T20:27:00-05:00

London's iconic Crystal Palace just moved one step closer to its magnificent resurrection with the announcement of six shortlisted design teams, all vying to rebuild The Crystal Palace and the surrounding public park as a major landmark.

The list of selected architects to move on to the next competition stage reads like a who's who in British architecture:

David Chipperfield Architects
Grimshaw
Haworth Tompkins Architects
Marks Barfield Architects
Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
Zaha Hadid Architects with Anish Kapoor

Grimshaw/Gruen’s 17-hectare L.A. Union Station Master Plan approved to begin final phase

2014-01-09T12:52:00-05:00

Since Gruen Associates and Grimshaw Architects were approved in 2012 to create the L.A. Union Station Master Plan, the leading designers and their team recently got the green light from the L.A. Metro to begin the plan's third and final phase. Preserving the station's iconic nature and enhancing its surrounding 17 hectares to address the city's most pressing needs in the future, the proposal is set for completion in Summer 2014.

Images via Grimshaw Architects

Previously: Los Angeles Metro Approves Gruen/Grimshaw for Union Station Master Plan

Grimshaw completes the nature-inspired Ecorium, their first project in Asia

2013-11-25T20:14:00-05:00

Grimshaw Architects recently announced the completion of the Ecorium at the National Ecology Center in Seocheon, South Korea -- making this the firm's first project in Asia.

The newly built ecological educational and research center gives visitors a first-hand experience to learn about the Earth's ecosystems all in one place.

Below are more details on the project:

"The project, which was secured through a turnkey design and build competition hosted by Korea’s Ministry of the Environment, uses nature as an immersive teaching tool to showcase the world’s diverse ecosystems. Grimshaw’s New York studio was appointed by Samsung Construction and worked alongside Samoo Architects and Engineers.

The project concept is inspired by the form of an oxbow lake, an aquatic body created by the evolving erosion of a meandering river. The masterplan guides the visitor flow through a series of botanical gardens and into Ecorium."

"Visitors travel through five biomes, seeing, hearing...

Construction Update of Reading Station Area Redevelopment by Grimshaw Architects

2013-02-06T12:59:00-05:00

Major construction is currently under way in Reading, England as part of the Reading Station Area Redevelopment. In this new construction update video, Mark Middleton, partner at Grimshaw Architects, is on site at Reading Station and explains how the redevelopment will double its capacity and relieve a major bottleneck in the rail network west of London.

Construction Update of St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport by Grimshaw Architects

2012-12-12T13:48:00-05:00

Grimshaw Architects reveals an interesting glimpse of the massive construction going on at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg, Russia. Back in 2007, Grimshaw had won the competition for a new combined international and domestic terminal designed for 17 million passengers a year. The building is scheduled for completion in December 2013.

A neatly choreographed landscape of British power

2012-04-27T17:22:00-04:00

As a measure of the influence of all these ships, one need only look at the cities in which these museums are sited: London, Portsmouth, Southampton, Belfast, Bristol. All have been shaped – literally as well as metaphorically – by their seafaring pasts

Steve Rose writes about a trio of museums celebrating Britain's nautical history; The Cutty Sark conservation project, the Mary Rose Museum and Southampton's SeaCity.

The first, a newly restored Cutty Sark can be found at its new home in Greenwich, designed by Grimshaw Architects. Although some decried the fact that the ship is no longer a ship, afloat, a combination of the demands of preservation and a need to earn a profit led Grimshaw Architects to raise the ship three meters up in the air and enclose it in a glass skirt/ceiling. The later two museums have been designed by Wilkinson Eyre and are dedicated to Henry VIII's famed flagship and Southampton's Titanic connections, respectively.