City Approves Public Gardens At Renovated Midtown Skyscraper

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — City officials unanimously voted to approve a plan to create lush, indoor public gardens as part of a plan to renovate a recently landmarked Midtown skyscraper, the project's architects announced this week.

The City Planning Commission signed off on architecture firm Snøhetta’s design for the privately-owned public space as part of the firm's redevelopment of 555 Madison Avenue. The vote is the final approval needed for the project, which also has the blessing of local Community Board 5.

Snøhetta’s vision for the space is to create verdant gardens that will be double the amount of public space at the tower. The gardens will act as a "vibrant sensory retreat" from the usual hustle of Midtown. As a regulated privately-owned public space (POPS) the garden will be open to the public to enjoy.

"Privately-owned public spaces are a critical part of New York City’s public realm. Urban
life thrives in and around spaces that allow us to connect with one another and to
nature," Michelle Delk, partner and director of landscape architecture at Snøhetta, said in a statement.

Elements of the design for the space include a large glass canopy that will allow natural light to flood the garden, a waterfall feature and circular "rooms" that will offer passersby places to sit and linger. The gardens will feature a wide variety of vegetation including full-grown trees such as evergreens and perennials as well as types of flowering shrubs. Vegetation will be visible from the street, which will serve to welcome people into the space.

More than 40 trees are expected to be planted, architects said. The lush environment may attract a variety of birds, butterflies and other pollinators to flourish in the space.

The city Landmarks Preservation Commission approved renovation plans for the postmodern skyscraper in February. Architects plan to modernize the skyscraper's interior spaces and overhaul its privately-owned public space while preserving 94 percent of the building's famed exterior. The commission voted in 2018 to extend landmark designation to the Philip Johnson- and John Burgee-designed tower following Snøhetta’s initial announcement to renovate the building. The last-minute landmark forced the architect and developers to plan the renovation with city approvals.