Archinect - News

New York City previews initial pedestrian-minded ‘Future of Fifth’ redesign proposal

2024-10-21T18:51:00-04:00

The full details for a proposed new pedestrian corridor along Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan designed by Field Operations have been released by the city in anticipation of the first redesign of the famous thoroughfare in its 200-year history.

The plan covers a swath from Central Park South to Bryant Park, expanding sidewalks in the area by 46% and reducing the number of lanes for motor vehicle traffic from five to three.

Arcadis and Sam Schwartz Engineering are joining Field Operations as the co-leads of the design and study. Their work expands on the previous mayoral administration’s Open Streets program. The city says the plan is "projected to pay for itself in less than five years through increased property and sales tax revenue."

Image courtesy of City Hall

Aside from the stated economic benefit the redesign is meant ultimately to solve an existing spatial imbalance, as 70% of Fifth Avenue's current daily traffic is pedestrians.

At this volume—which increases during times wh...

Olson Kundig is expanding to New York City after six decades in Seattle

2022-04-29T14:04:00-04:00

The Big Apple is picking up a West Coast vibe after Olson Kundig’s announcement that it will be expanding its operation into New York City for the first time.

The award-winning firm has been in business since 1966, operating out of a renovated space in Seattle’s old Shoe Factory Building since the project’s completion in 2003.

Olson Kundig's new East Coast outpost will be located on the tenth floor of a historic Jazz Age building located in Midtown’s Bryant Park neighborhood. The office features a central collective space called The Living Room, which is anchored by a particularly PNW import personally designed by Tom Kundig with built-in turntables from Seattle icon Sub Pop Records.

Olson Kundig's Seattle headquarters. Image courtesy Olson Kundig.

“While Olson Kundig previously occupied a small workspace in New York, this new office represents a more significant investment in office space and participation with the design culture of the city,” CEO and principal Hemanshu Parwani expl...