location:

New York, NY

firm role:

Architecture and Interior Design

scale:

2 Stories

64,000 SF

synopsis:

This state-of-the-art athletic and entertainment facility stands at the gateway of the East River Esplanade, an important part of New York's efforts to revitalize the Manhattan waterfront. This adaptive reuse project converted an abandoned warehouse into a new venue that includes seven full-size basketball courts, locker rooms, a gastropub and one of New York's largest catering facilities and event spaces. The development also includes a 15,000 SF esplanade overlooking the East River with views of downtown Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Statue of Liberty.

The building's design celebrates its waterfront location while solving the unique structural challenges of constructing on top of a pier. The wood floor system utilizes a specially engineered subfloor design of recycled, sustainable materials that enhances athletic play while responding to an array of climate and moisture conditions. In the interior, a basketball’s circular form is used as a defining motif throughout the ceiling and floor patterns and with volumetric glass and sheetrock walls. This gives the space a dynamic, modern sensibility and sophistication not usually found at sports facilities. World-class audio and lighting systems provide maximum flexibility for a wide variety of event programming.