Image © SOM/bloomimages
Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM), the Walt Disney Company’s new headquarters in New York City aims to fit seamlessly into its neighborhood of Hudson Square with two 98-m (320-ft) towers.
The 4 Hudson Square site covers an entire city block surrounded by old loft buildings. The architecture of the former ‘Printing District’ called for large floors, and the site of the new headquarters allows for floorplates to reach up to 7897 m2 (85,000 sf).
The building will be part of the fabric of the mixed-used neighborhood of Hudson Square with ground-level retail amenities. Above, the 19-story, as-of-right building will rise in a series of setbacks, which culminate in the two towers and several terraces.
The building’s façade design is inspired by the material palette of Hudson Square—a neighborhood of masonry and stone, as well as bronze-colored metal, hints of color, and punched windows. With a soft and sinuous profile, rich texture and materiality, and deep-set picture windows, the new structure seeks to harmonize with its surroundings while expressing a contemporary aesthetic. Double- and triple-columned green terra cotta panels will create a rhythmic texture that echoes the undulating façades of the neighborhood, and the panels will complement the area’s warm earth tones while adding depth to the building’s frame.
The building is aiming for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and wellness certifications.
