Pier 55 is a public park and performance space on Manhattan’s lower west side commissioned by a new non-profit organisation, funded primarily by the Diller – von Furstenberg family, which will build and operate the pier in cooperation with the Hudson River Park Trust. The new pier will be will be constructed between the pile fields of Pier 54 and Pier 56, which will remain in order to provide a sustainable fish habitat.
Barry Diller commissioned Heatherwick Studio to design the $170 million futuristic park on Manhattan’s west side. It is set to replace the deteriorated Pier 54 with a lush undulating landscape supported with 300 mushroom columns about 55 metres off the Hudson River shoreline. “Hudson River Park has become a destination for millions of New Yorkers from across all five boroughs,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “The revitalization and transformation of this pier into a vibrant arts and community space will bring new energy and new visitors to our waterfront.”
“New York City’s waterfront provides tremendous opportunities for everything from tourism to outdoor recreation, and Pier55 is the perfect example of how we can tap into that resource to build a more enjoyable city for all,” said Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. “Building this new pier will greatly improve the Hudson River Parkland, and I thank the Diller – von Furstenberg family for their generosity and vision in the pursuit of a better New York.”
The pier will be a place of discovery, where visitors can wander and wonder, finding something new around every corner: places to lounge, eat lunch, or just lie in the grass. The park’s undulating topography – replete with lush lawns and pathways – will offer sweeping views of the Manhattan and northern New Jersey skylines for all park-goers and provide a natural viewing area for the new performance space, which will be designed to immediately serve as one of New York City’s premier venues for music, dance, theatre and public art, along with community events.
Construction of the 2.7-acre pier is expected to commence in 2016.
Project Information
Architect: Heatherwick Studio
Location: Manhattan, New York
Client: Hudson River Park Trust
Area: 10 927 sqm
Status: Construction in 2016
Photographs: Pier 55 Inc, Heatherwick Studio, Luxigon
