New York: The Latest Architecture and News

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New York architects Marion Weiss and Michael Manfredi founded their studio, Weiss/Manfredi, in 1989 after winning a couple of important competitions—for the Military Women's Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery and Olympia Fields and Community Center near Chicago—both were built in the 1990s. Their most representative built works include the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Visitor Center, Hunter's Point South Waterfront Park, and the Barnard College Diana Center, all in New York City. The architects' Seattle Museum of Art's Olympic Sculpture Park, which won an international competition and was built in 2007, was praised by critics as one of the world's greatest sculpture parks and among the best examples of landscape urbanism.

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New York City has implemented the first congestion pricing scheme in the US, charging drivers up to $9 per day to enter a designated zone south of Central Park, encompassing areas like Times Square and Wall Street. The initiative aims to alleviate chronic traffic congestion, improve air quality, and generate revenue for public transportation improvements, addressing New York City's ranking as the world's most congested urban area for two consecutive years. The plan went into effect Sunday, January 5th, 2025.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has unveiled the design for a new wing dedicated to its 20th- and 21st-century art collection. Architect Frida Escobedo, the first woman to design a Met wing, is leading the project. The Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Wing will increase gallery space by almost 50 percent, adding over 70,000 square feet. This expansion will address accessibility issues, improve infrastructure, and enhance the sustainability of the building. The opening of the new wing is anticipated in 2030.

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Ahead of the official reopening of Notre Dame de Paris, scheduled for December 8, a series of exhibitions are happening worldwide, aiming to use immersive technologies and augmented reality to bring to a wider audience both the restoration efforts and the wider story of the beloved monument. The event aims to present significant chapters of the history of the iconic structure, from its medieval origins to its witnessing of historical events such as the coronation of Napoleon or the marriage of Henri IV, the 19th-century restoration which added the spire designed by French architect Viollet-le-Duc, and the devastating 2019 fire.

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Architectural grafting, a concept recently popularized by Jeanne Gang in The Art of Architectural Grafting, presents a transformative approach to urban regeneration and sustainability. Drawing inspiration from botanical and horticultural practices — where new growth is added to existing plants for enhanced resilience — this architectural method integrates new structures with existing ones, allowing them to coexist and adapt. Rather than pursuing demolition, grafting prioritizes adaptation, extending the life of buildings while safeguarding their cultural and historical significance.

While Studio Gang has played a pivotal role in advancing this method, architectural grafting embodies a broader principle that architects have long used to enhance sustainability, conserve resources, and honor heritage. Across scales — from individual buildings to urban landscapes —grafting reshapes the relationship between past and present, adapting existing structures for contemporary needs while addressing environmental demands. By reimagining historic buildings for modern use, this approach fosters a sustainable evolution of cityscapes.

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In an interview with Louisiana Channel, Liz Diller, co-founder of the renowned architecture firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro, reflects on her unconventional journey into architecture and her innovative approach to design. Starting her career with aspirations of being an artist, Diller never initially intended to become an architect. Her artistic background, which included painting, sculpture, and filmmaking, continues to influence her work today. What drew her into architecture was a combination of curiosity and practicality, driven in part by concerns about the viability of a career in the arts.

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The mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, along with the Future of Fifth Partnership, announced plans to transform Fifth Avenue, between Bryant Park and Central Park, into a pedestrian-centered boulevard. The project includes expanding sidewalks by 46%, reducing traffic lanes, improving pedestrian safety with shorter crosswalks, and adding greenery and lighting. The initiative begun with the Future of Fifth public-private partnership, which selected Arcadis, Sam Schwartz Engineering, and Field Operations to lead the design and study, and schematic design, scheduled to be completed by summer 2025.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has opened a major exhibition focused on the diverse and innovative career of Paul Rudolph, a second-generation Modernist architect whose work stands alongside luminaries such as Eero Saarinen and I.M. Pei. Titled "Materialized Space: The Architecture of Paul Rudolph," the exhibition is on display from September 30, 2024, to March 16, 2025, covering a wide spectrum of Rudolph's architectural contributions, from his experimental houses in Florida, through civic projects, to visionary urban megastructures and mixed-use skyscrapers.

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