WXY

Liberty State Park is evolving, and WXY is proud to collaborate with the NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, Arup, and WRT to help shape its future. Our work focuses on designing new amenity nodes that enhance the visitor experience while respecting the park’s natural and historic landscape. The WXY team, led by Rob Daurio, our director of urban sustainability, is designing concessions, seating, and shuttle bus shelters with resiliency and sustainability in mind, using low-impact materials that blend seamlessly with the surroundings. Thoughtfully placed throughout the park, these structures will create accessible, comfortable, and functional spaces for everyone. As part of this effort, we also completed the concept design for the historic Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal train shed, once a vital transit hub connecting millions of immigrants arriving at Ellis Island to destinations across the country. WRT is now advancing the design. We’re excited to be part of developing the infrastructure that helps the park meet today’s needs while preparing for tomorrow’s challenges. Watch the video to discover more about the project: https://lnkd.in/eBunr5w9

We’re proud to share that WXY has been recognized with a Green GOOD DESIGN? Award for our work on NYC’s Curbside EV Charging Expansion Program! Led by principal Adam Lubinsky and developed in collaboration with Parsons Transportation Group, the New York City Department of Transportation, and it's electric, this initiative expands NYC’s curbside EV charging network, prioritizing accessibility, environmental justice, and seamless urban integration. Our GIS-based methodology identified 500+ viable locations across all five boroughs, ensuring equitable access to EV infrastructure. A huge thank you to The Chicago Athenaeum Museum for Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies for this recognition! Explore our submission: https://lnkd.in/eskvmCbJ #GOODDesignAward #EVcharging #UrbanPlanning

We're proud to announce that WXY has been awarded three grants through NYSERDA’s Clean Mobility Program to explore zero-emission transportation solutions that improve access and reduce emissions in New York communities. WXY’s team, including Adam Lubinsky, Chris Rice, AICP, Bahij Chancey, Mallory Thatch, and Sarah Lohmar, will collaborate with local partners to assess new models for shared electric transportation. In Kingston, WXY will work with the City of Kingston, NY to design a citywide clean mobility program for residents and visitors. The study will explore options like bike and scooter sharing, electric ridesharing, micromobility charging hubs, and programs to support bike and scooter ownership. WXY will support The Fullerton in developing a regional bike-share program connecting Newburgh and Beacon. The study will assess station locations, technical requirements, and operations partnerships to strengthen sustainable transportation options between communities. In Hunts Point, WXY will collaborate with The Point to expand an electric shuttle service that builds on an existing EPA-funded pilot. The project will engage local residents to refine shuttle routes, service hours, and outreach strategies, ensuring the program meets community needs. These efforts are part of a larger statewide investment in zero-emission transportation, ensuring that communities have access to cleaner, more efficient ways to get around. We’re excited to be part of it!

Design and perception shape subway safety. The way stations look and feel influences rider behavior and confidence. The latest report from Vital City makes a compelling case for integrating smart design with behavioral strategies to make New York’s subway safer. WXY’s founding principal, Claire Weisz, was among the advisors on this study, providing key insights into how station layouts, lighting, and material choices can deter crime and create a more secure environment. Many of these principles echo the vision outlined in a previous article she collaborated on with WXY's Bahij Chancey and David Vega-Barachowitz called "The Platforms We Deserve" (read it here: https://lnkd.in/eVHA8RfP) where the team explored how the subway could function as an extension of the public realm. The most recent study reinforces that design influences safety. Open sightlines, clear wayfinding, and well-lit spaces can help make stations feel more secure. Behavioral interventions encourage compliance through environmental cues, improving the experience for riders. A clean and well-managed station signals order and deters disorder. New York’s subway can be better, and design is crucial to that transformation. Read the full study: https://lnkd.in/eYGBNg2Z

How can architects lead the movement toward ethical, transparent, and equitable material sourcing? The 2025 Design for Freedom Competition challenges architecture students to confront eradicating forced labor from supply chains. WXY’s Farida Abu-Bakare, our Director of Global Practice, will be part of an esteemed jury evaluating student proposals that integrate ethical and equitable materiality into design solutions. Students, the deadline to register is April 9, so sign up and don’t miss out on the chance to be part of this important conversation.

Across the U.S., cities are transforming aging highways from barriers that once divided neighborhoods into spaces that reconnect them. The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) is no exception. Built at the height of American motordom, it now presents a critical opportunity to create safer, greener, and more connected communities. Led by associate principal David Vega-Barachowitz, our director of urban design, WXY’s vision for the BQE, developed with the New York City Department of Transportation, WSP, 3x3, and local stakeholders, explores strategies to reclaim underutilized land, prioritize pedestrians and cyclists, and integrate green infrastructure under, over, and around the highway. But this is about more than New York City. It’s part of a national movement. San Francisco replaced the Embarcadero Freeway with a pedestrian-friendly boulevard and waterfront promenade. Dallas transformed a highway trench into Klyde Warren Park, bridging downtown and uptown with a vibrant public space. In Rochester, the removal of Inner Loop East made way for new housing and businesses, restoring neighborhood connections. Hundreds of cities around the country are revisiting the legacy of highway-building as an opportunity for restorative justice and building places that reveal stories about communities that were lost. What other opportunities exist to rethink infrastructure as a tool for urban renewal? Explore our full report: https://lnkd.in/eC_2QKWt

New York City’s mobility future is taking shape. In 2024, 28,000 cyclists crossed into Manhattan over the borough's bridges daily. New, protected bike lanes on Sixth and Seventh Avenues help make biking an even more viable commuting option. At WXY, we’ve long championed street design that prioritizes safety, connectivity, and accessibility for all users. Expanding dedicated spaces for micro-mobility isn’t just about biking. It’s about creating a city where streets work better for everyone. Check out principal Adam Lubinsky's post below for more on NYC’s growing bike network!

WXY is excited to share that we have been selected twice as a finalist for?"PORCH: An Architecture of Generosity," the U.S. Pavilion exhibition at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia. The exhibition is organized by the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design at the University of Arkansas in collaboration with DesignConnects and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. WXY had two submissions accepted. The first is?Coastal Porchscapes, developed in collaboration with NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, and L+M Development Partners LLC. The second was created in partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation for Dining Out NYC. Both submissions were selected as finalists. The exhibition explores themes of civic engagement, community building, and social and environmental resilience through architecture and design. As part of the U.S. Pavilion, WXY’s work will contribute to a global conversation on how architecture can foster generosity, connection, and cultural exchange. Visit https://lnkd.in/gA3dfN5c to learn more. Let's connect in Venice!

We’re proud to announce that WXY has been invited to participate in the?19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, curated by Carlo Ratti!? ? Titled?"Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective.,"?the Biennale Architettura 2025?will explore sustainability and climate action within the built environment. Being a part of this global dialogue is an honor and a meaningful opportunity to demonstrate how design can contribute to change. ? We look forward to collaborating with pioneering thought leaders, partners, and innovators at the Biennale Architettura 2025 and exploring groundbreaking approaches in architecture that prioritize resilience and harmony. See you in Venice!?? ? #BiennaleArchitettura2025?#IntelliGens?Fondazione La Biennale di Venezia

One of the first steps in transforming a place is imagining what it could be. When WXY developed renderings for the rezoning of Governors Island, we helped lay the groundwork for a bold vision that's now becoming reality with The New York Climate Exchange. Led by Stony Brook University, in collaboration with Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Georgia Institute of Technology, Pace University, Pratt Institute, the University of Washington, IBM, and Good Old Lower East Side, Inc. (GOLES), this $700 million initiative will be a global model for climate innovation. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) is leading the team, bringing their expertise to advance the next phase of the project. We're proud to say our work helped shape the beginning of the conversation. Now, with a world-class team in place, this vision can move forward and turn renderings into reality.