Project Description
Visible from 52 floors above the streets of New York, the New York Times Building’s rooftop terrace design reflects the Hudson Valley ecology. The intensive vegetated roof is organized by a perimeter framework of trees, vertical vine screens and undulating shrub massings, framing a new glass pavilion. A continuous armature of vine screens visually filters dunnage and its mechanical equipment while establishing a vertical vegetated garden backdrop. Red Maple crowns extend the building architecture and frame the garden, establishing a dramatic contrasting verdant enclosure to the urban vistas beyond.
Microclimatic analysis and wind simulations were used to inform planting species selections and a custom anchoring system to stabilize the trees in extreme weather events. The vibrant colors of autumn will be highlighted by the complimentary colors of the native Red Maple trees, Lowbush Blueberry, and climbing Boston Ivy vines. This hardy and durable plant palette also includes massings of Mugo Pine shrubs for year-round garden structure. Collaborating with Renzo Piano Building Workshop and FxFowle Architects, HM White established a sequence of installation strategies to overcome the unprecedented challenges of constructing a garden 52 floors above the busy streets of the Times Square district. These strategies were derived to meet strict project budgets and to ensure horticultural sustainability and vitality.