PROJECT STATEMENT

Un-built, the New York Times Building Sky Garden was designed to become an iconic roof garden 52-stories above one of New York City’s densest neighborhoods. Informed by microclimatic computer simulations, the garden design was carefully calibrated for human comfort and horticultural sustainability. The minimalist design emphasizes a poetic approach inspired by the Hudson River Valley landscape, juxtaposed with the roof’s industrial context. Promoting a restrained, yet strong natural statement that harmonizes with the architectural and mechanical elements of the building, the garden design provides a serene place of respite for building tenants while also establishing a new urban landmark and beacon of Nature floating in the city skyline.

PROJECT PURPOSE:
Create a sustainable and unique roof top garden design for building tenants that capitalizes on the building’s architectural transparent qualities and city views while also accommodating roof mechanical structures and maintenance service areas.

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS ROLE:
Fulfill the aspirations of client group and the design architect’s concept for an iconic landscape design that enhances the architecture and visibly identifies the building in the urban skyline.

SPECIAL FACTORS:
Context
As counterpoint to its dense Times Square neighborhood, symbolic fragments of the Hudson Valley landscape were envisioned for the heart and head of The New York Times’ new headquarters. Visible from the street, the 1.5 million-square-foot glass and steel complex showcases a shaded woodland garden (completed in 2008) nestled within its entrance lobby, while the 24,000 square-foot, sun-drenched Sky Garden atop the tower remains its un-built counterpart.

Analysis
Computer programs were specially developed to predict the effects of design on microclimates. A three-dimensional computer model of the building and its urban environment was integrated with a solar simulator to identify seasonal solar radiation patterns within the exterior spaces. This information, along with the results of a wind tunnel simulation, was used to determine wind screen placement, plant species selections, arrangement and planting preparations to ensure long-term sustainability. The solar simulator illustrated hourly solar and terrestrial radiation data for typical spring, summer and fall days. These results, along with hourly air temperature, wind and air humidity estimates, were input into a human thermal comfort model. This assessment gave both a spatial and temporal estimation of comfort for the garden spaces.

Site Constraints
Strict budgetary limitations demanded leadership in economic evaluation to establish a comprehensive and sustainable landscape system while preserving the integrity of the garden’s design intentions. The unprecedented challenge of constructing the Sky Garden 52-stories in the air demanded considerable efforts to analyze the choreography of its installation. Input from consultation with landscape contractors and structural and crane engineers informed the design, implementation and physical and economic restrictions to improve the project’s viability.
Load capacity on the roof slab varies. These weight restrictions identified zones capable of supporting heavy intensive garden systems for tree growth and where relatively shallow growing medium depths are required.

The glass curtain walls of the building extend more than 60-feet beyond the garden level. The building’s mechanical equipment, service area and dunnage structures occupy the central area of the roof. Adjacency to the glass facade of the building and intake/exhaust components of the mechanical equipment define further horticultural limitations.

Design Innovation
The Sky Garden reveals a serene, symbolic fragment of the Hudson River Valley landscape atop this man-made construct. The bold simplicity of a minimalist design ethos creates a restrained visual abstraction, composed of only five plant types which harmonize rather than compete with the building’s design elements. The garden is comprised of four primary elements: tree crown, undulating topographic surface, floating boardwalk and shade pergola. Themes of transparency and juxtaposition permeate the design and reveal Nature at the core of this man-made construct.

Scale and Spatial Layering—A large floating pergola provides filtered shade visitors from harsh western sun exposure. A wooden boardwalk hovers over the sculpted landform and controls access to the building perimeter and reinforces the sense of a serene and sensitive garden space overlooking the city and urban landscape beyond.  

Seasonal/Temporal Diversity— The consistent arrangement of trees and meandering composition of evergreen and deciduous plants highlight topographic undulations while staging diverse seasonal displays experienced from within and the street.

Ecological Sustainability— A layered web of infrastructure knits the garden with the building while also supporting long-term sustainability in this manufactured setting. Potential exposure to extreme weather patterns led to the development of a custom anchoring system to stabilize the trees. The anchoring system effectively forms a web interlinking each root ball and connecting to specific points of the building infrastructure with only temporary supports visible at the surface.

Vegetation Systems— The intensive vegetated roof is organized by a perimeter framework of trees, vertical vine screens and undulating shrub massings. The armature of vine screens visually filters mechanical dunnage and equipment while establishing a lush garden backdrop. Red Maples extend the building architecture and frame the garden, establishing a dramatic verdant enclosure to urban vistas beyond. The combination of deciduous and evergreen plants retain year-round garden structure. The vibrant colors of autumn represent a distinct characteristic unique to the northeastern landscape. The annual fall performance will be an unparalleled urban landmark.

At first glance one could mistake the subtle design for that of a simple garden. The intelligence and infrastructure supporting it incorporate scientific research and technological advancements critical to realizing and sustaining this urban Sky Garden. However invisible, the complexities of setting the stage for this living sanctuary, within an entirely manufactured setting, defines its creation in time.