The 17 finalists for Beyond the Centerline have been on view in the lobby of 55 West 52nd Street and online for the public to review and vote for a new and exciting Park Avenue design. Here are the winners from the jury, and the popular vote in the Fisher Brothers competition.
Grand Prize Winner in Fisher Brothers’ Park Avenue Design Competition is “Park Park” designed by Ben Meade, Anthony Stahl, and Alexia Beghi of newly founded MAISON. Their submission features a series of cultural interventions intended to inject new energy into the currently staid Park Avenue landscape.
Park Park (above & below)
Designed by Ben Meade, Anthony Stahl, and Alexia Beghi of newly founded MAISON, “Park Park” features a series of cultural interventions intended to inject new energy into the currently staid Park Avenue landscape. In the “Park Park” design, the iconic boulevard would be transformed via a series of raised platforms incorporating venues intended to attract New Yorkers and visitors to the centerline in different experiential ways. The spaces include: The Stage, a performance space to hold concerts and shows; The Gallery, a triplet of glass cubes that serves as a rotating art gallery and showroom; The Gardens, a seasonally-curated pathway that provides a lush respite in the city; and The Court, an elevated basketball court that pays homage to New York City’s rich basketball culture.
And the winner of Fisher Brothers Second Prize ~ the Popular Vote ~ went to Park River designed by Amy Garlock, Drew Cowdrey, and Fareez Giga of the architectural firm Local Architects.
Park River (above & below)
Understanding that New York’s waterways are underused and difficult to access from the heart of the city, “Park River” is designed to produce a new kind of shoreline – one that is accessible, recreation-focused, and instantly creates a new way to experience the city from within. “Park River” re-centers the roadway and creates a river that loops along the sides of Park Avenue between 46th and 57th Streets. The design allows for kayaking in warmer months or ice skating in the winter, and its expanded plazas offer destinations for boating, dining, and lounging. “Park River” would instantly create 11 blocks of waterfront property in Midtown and become an amenity for any building along the waterfront.
After receiving nearly 150 ambitious submissions, a jury of eight esteemed professionals narrowed the field down to 17 designs, which included such curiosities as an aquarium, Alpine mountain, and botanical circus, as well as urban amenities like seating areas, lush landscaping, and walking paths. The finalists were then displayed in the public atrium of Fisher Brothers’ Park Avenue Plaza tower, where New Yorkers could vote on their favorite ideas.
“We were overwhelmed by the large and enthusiastic response to this competition, and it was exciting to witness firsthand how deeply the participants embraced our call to be innovative and bold,” said Fisher Brothers Partner Winston Fisher. “Our intent was to open people’s eyes to new possibilities, and we hope that this competition will be viewed as just the beginning of the conversation about the future of Park Avenue.”
In addition to the $25,000 jury prize, Fisher Brothers awarded a $5,000 prize to “Park River,” designed by Amy Garlock, Drew Cowdrey, and Fareez Giga of architecture firm Local Architects, which won the popular vote.
Missed the fun and the voting? Check out the initial post on this project, below……
Beyond the Centerline competition has narrowed the field down to 17 finalists. Voting for your favorite design will take place from March 5th through March 9th.
Two winners will be announced by Fisher Brothers on March 13th. In addition to a $25,000 grand prize winner selected by the jury, Fisher Brothers plans to award a $5,000 prize to the winner of a popular vote.
If you can’t make it to Park Avenue Plaza, 55 East 52nd Street to see the display, you can view the finalists online ~ and Vote!
