New York City: Hudson Square Neighbourhood Redesign

November 2010

The Business Improvement District based around New York’s Hudson Square - the Hudson Square Connection - has selected a team led by Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects to transform the public realm and streetscape in the neighbourhood.

Billings Jackson will provide industrial design; Rogers Marvel Architects, urban design; Open, graphic design; and Arup, transportation planning and lighting design. Mercator Land Surveying and VJ Associates cost estimators complete the consulting team.

The district is the epicentre of creative industry, bounded by West Village, SoHo and Tribeca. The improvements will transform the urban realm into a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable space that reflects the synergistic creativity defining local businesses.

A request for proposals was first issued in July for the development of a comprehensive streetscape improvement plan for the Hudson Square neighbourhood. The Connection received responses from 23 highly qualified teams, totaling more than 100 companies, each with its own ideas for adding open space and greenery to the district, and for addressing traffic congestion.

After an extensive review and selection process, the Hudson Square Connection chose the Mathews Nielsen team to transform New York City’s creative hub. The Connection made the selection based on criteria such as a proven track record, excellent design work and a balance of local experience and global perspective. The Hudson Square Connection will be funded primarily through incremental property tax on commercial property. The vision and design framework is to be completed by the summer of 2011.