The American Institute of Architects New York Chapter, Related Companies and Oxford Properties Group Announce Design(in) The New Heart of New York, A Two-Month Exhibition Showcasing Hudson Yards at the Center

NEW YORK, NY - Eight-Week Speaker Series Brings Together Celebrated Architects, Designers, Civic Leaders, and the City Partners who are Redefining New York's Skyline on Manhattan's West Side

The American Institute of Architects New York Chapter, Related Companies and Oxford Properties Group today announced the launch of a two-month exhibition showcasing the historic Hudson Yards development beginning May 1st at the Center for Architecture's Breakthrough Space gallery located at 536 LaGuardia Place. Design(in) The New Heart of New York runs through June 30th. The exhibition details the planning, design, engineering and architecture of this massive 26-acre project and features a rotating dynamic gallery space where architects and designers will present never-seen-before elements of the design process and the evolution of this unprecedented development.

An eight-week speaker series will complement the exhibit and enable visitors to hear directly from, and interact with, the celebrated architects, designers, civic leaders, developers and city partners working on the city-altering project including: David Childs, FAIA, of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill; Elizabeth Diller of Diller Scofidio + Renfro; Howard Elkus, FAIA, RIBA, of Elkus Manfredi Architects; David Rockwell, AIA, of the Rockwell Group; and Thomas Woltz of Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects. As part of the series, Bill Pedersen, FAIA, of Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF), the creative force behind some of the world's tallest and most elegant towers, will speak of the vision and process behind the Hudson Yards' spirit and character as embodied by the two soaring commercial towers that anchor its design during NYCxDESIGN – New York City's inaugural citywide event showcasing and promoting designs of all disciplines.

L. Jay Cross, Related's President of Hudson Yards said, "The development of Hudson Yards is an historic moment for New York. This dramatic transformation would not have been possible without the collaboration of the many celebrated architects and designers who are working on this project. We are thrilled to partner with the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter to present Design(in) The New Heart of New York, an exhibition and speaker series that will give all New Yorkers an opportunity to learn more about the city's newest neighborhood and hear directly from the visionaries who are redefining New York's skyline."

Jill Lerner, FAIA, 2013 AIA New York President said, "The AIA New York Chapter is proud to host Design(in) The New Heart of New York, and we're excited to share the development and its architecture with the public for the first time. Hudson Yards is pivotal for the future of New York, and the Center for Architecture is the perfect place to showcase this project that will transform the west side of Manhattan."

Hudson Yards is the largest private development to be realized in New York City and is destined to become the new center of commerce, culture and community on New York City's west side. Beginning today, the developers, architects and designers involved in the development will be conversing about the project and their speaker series events using #HudsonYards and #NHNY (New Heart of New York). Anyone interested in this historic project is invited to join them in the conversation.

David Childs, FAIA, Consulting Design Partner at SOM said, "At Hudson Yards, we have a rare opportunity to design an entirely new district from the ground up in one of the densest, most complex places in the world. Great credit is due to the visionaries at Related Companies and Oxford Properties Group, as well as to the Hudson Yards Development Corporation and the public-private partnership who made this immense project possible. Because of all of their efforts, this neighborhood is destined to become one of the city's most attractive for all that use and visit it, and a model for other cities, here and abroad, to follow."

Howard Elkus, FAIA, RIBA, cofounding principal of Elkus Manfredi Architects said, "New York City is known for its iconic buildings. Now, with the opening of Hudson Yards, the city will also be known for its ability to create a true mixed-use, 21st-century neighborhood. The retail and dining will be how most people interact with Hudson Yards, and we plan on creating a truly remarkable destination – a place that will bring New Yorkers back again and again."

Elizabeth Diller, Principal at Diller Scofidio + Renfro said, "The opportunity to design a major the residential tower and the future cultural facility, along with the last phase of the High Line, gives our studio the rare chance to create an urban ensemble in New York that brings living, culture and recreation into one location."

Bill Pedersen, FAIA, founding design partner of Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) said, "Like Hudson Yards, Rockefeller Center was created by an exceptional collaboration of diverse personalities, responding to the challenging pressures which are brought to bear on a work of commercial architecture. What resulted from this dialogue is an almost unprecedented architectural balance of humility and nobility. Looking back, it is this elusive balance which I have been seeking in my work for the last forty years. I consider Hudson Yards to be the most important test in my career of this philosophical position."

David Rockwell, AIA, of the Rockwell Group said, "Collaborating with Diller Scofidio + Renfro on the design of our first tower is an incredible opportunity to make an addition to the New York skyline, which has always been a personal ambition of mine as a designer."

Thomas Woltz, of Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects said, "Hudson Yards offers the city a tremendous opportunity to add to its palette of remarkable parks. The Eastern Yards will be surrounded by soaring buildings, sentinels, looking inward to the core of the site. Our job as landscape architects is to conduct the orchestra between the plaza, art, plants, people and architecture within this urban realm."

The 26-acre site will accommodate over 13 million square feet, including more than 6 million square feet of commercial space; 750,000 square feet of destination retail space with five floors dedicated to premier shops, cinemas, specialty restaurants, markets and bars, a number of which will be programmed by Danny Meyer's Union Square Events; 14-acres of new open spaces and parks; approximately 5,000 residences; a new school; and a luxury hotel – all offering unparalleled amenities for residents, employees and visitors. Hudson Yards is also strategically located at the center of the region with unsurpassed connections to public transportation and an incomparable network of parks and public plazas. Its construction is expected to create nearly 23,000 construction jobs, and once completed, 40,000 people will work in, or call Hudson Yards their home. The 1.7 million square foot South Tower, currently under construction and slated to open in 2015, is the future home of Coach, Inc., L'Oréal USA, and SAP.

Design(in) The New Heart of New York will run from May 1st to June 30th, events include:

Saturday, May 4th Open House New York (OHNY) will host a special viewing of the Design(in) The New Heart of New York exhibition for OHNY members at 10:00 am. Guided tours by Hudson Yards architects and Related Planner Michael Samuelian will be available at 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm. Space is limited so please visit http://www.ohny.org/ to RSVP.
Monday, May 6th Daily News Real Estate Editor Jason Sheftell will lead a candid discussion about creating a 21st Century neighborhood for future commercial growth. Jason will be joined by Related's Hudson Yards President L. Jay Cross; Former New York City Deputy Mayor, Founder of NYC 2012 and CEO and President of Bloomberg L.P. Daniel L. Doctoroff; Mitchell L. Moss, Henry Hart Rice Professor of Urban Policy and Planning at NYU; and Mary Ann Tighe, CEO of the NY Tri-State Region for CBRE. Panelists will also discuss how the public-private partnership created to develop the Hudson Yards district will enhance New York City's ability to stay globally competitive.
Thursday, May 16th Prominent architectural writer Joseph Giovannini will join Bill Pedersen, founding design partner of Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF), who will discuss the evolution of the urban, high-rise commercial office building, at Hudson Yards and around the world.
Thursday, May 30th A conversation with David Childs, FAIA, Consulting Design Partner at Skidmore Owings & Merrill, about the complexities of designing a mixed-use building in a mixed-use development.
Thursday, June 6th Peter Grant, Deputy Real Estate Editor for the Wall Street Journal, will lead a lively discussion with Ken Himmel, President and CEO of Related Urban, acclaimed architect and urban designer Howard Elkus and Mortimer Singer, President & CEO of Marvin Traub Associates to discuss modern placemaking through mixed-use developments. Building on their groundbreaking work on Boston’s Copley Place, 730 North Michigan Avenue in Chicago, CityPlace in West Palm Beach and The Shops at Columbus Circle in the Time Warner Center, which changed the paradigm for urban retail environments, Related and Elkus Manfredi Architects are working to make the Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards New York’s premier destination for shopping, dining and entertainment.
Tuesday, June 11th Holly Leicht, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Parks, joins Matthew Johnson, Senior Associate at Diller Scofidio + Renfro; Lisa Switkin, Associate Partner at James Corner Field Operations; Peter Mullan, Vice President for Planning & Design at Friends of the High Line; and Matthew Urbanski, Principal at Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates for a discussion about the evolution of parks on Manhattan's west side. The panel will discuss how the creation of the High Line and Hudson River Park, as well as the development of Hudson Park & Boulevard, served as a catalyst for private development in the Hudson Yards.
Wednesday, June 19th Vin Cipolla, President of New York City's Municipal Art Society joins Thomas Woltz of Nelson Byrd Woltz (NBW) Landscape Architects to discuss the expansive definition of Landscape Architecture as explored through the lens of NBW's book Garden Park Community Farm. A particular focus on parks, public space and landscape urbanism will lead into a process-oriented discussion of the influences, approach and considerations at work in designing the public space at Hudson Yards.
Tuesday, June 25th Elizabeth Diller, Principal at Diller Scofidio + Renfro joins David Rockwell, President of the Rockwell Group in conversation moderated by Julie Iovine, Architecture Columnist at the Wall Street Journal, about the conceptual and technical development of the new 72-story residential Tower at Hudson Yards, including the evolution of the tower's design and the relationship of the project to the larger development.

Founded 40 years ago, Related Companies is a fully-integrated, highly diversified industry leader with experience in virtually every aspect of development, acquisition, management, finance, fund management, marketing and sales. Oxford Properties Group is a global platform for real estate investment, development and management, with over 1,400 employees and over $20 billion of real assets that it manages for itself and on behalf of its co-owners and investment partners. Together, Related and Oxford have brought together a group of visionaries to develop an exceptional neighborhood that delivers everything New Yorkers value most.

The Center for Architecture is a destination for all interested in the built environment. It is home to the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter and the Center for Architecture Foundation, two organizations that provide resources to both the public and building industry professionals. Through exhibitions, programs, and special events, the Center aims to improve the quality and sustainability of the built environment, foster exchange between the design, construction, and real estate communities, and encourage collaborations across the city and globe. As the city's leading cultural institution focusing on architecture, the Center drives positive change through the power of design

For more information about Hudson Yards or the Design(in) The New Heart of New York exhibition and speaker series contact Joanna Rose at 212.801.3902 or visit www.hudsonyardsnewyork.com.