Brookfield Place is an inspiring public destination for Lower Manhattan’s next generation

Lower Manhattan today is a transformed place — a modern 24/7 neighborhood with vibrant residential life and diverse companies in tech, publishing, and creative services thriving alongside financial firms. In response to this profound shift in the post-9/11 world, we joined in exceptional collaboration with a team of architects, engineers, developers, and contractors to collectively reimagine the future of the landmark formerly known as the World Financial Center.

“Brookfield Place is an active participant and contributor to this thriving neighborhood in Lower Manhattan. Each aspect of this revitalization project reconnects the building with a transformed community.”— Rafael Pelli, FAIA, LEED AP

“Beyond responding to the commercial and overall community changes, each design decision creates a lighter, brighter, and more inviting destination, starting with the new Pavilion — a grand, glowing gateway to Battery Park City and the Hudson that reaches back to the heart of Lower Manhattan.” — Craig Copeland, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C

The Pavilion at Brookfield Place reflects Lower Manhattan’s transformative spirit

The striking glass Pavilion is the new front door to Brookfield Place, home to destination shopping, chef-driven restaurants, and the Winter Garden — one of New York’s iconic public rooms. Transparent and inviting, the Pavilion is seamlessly connected with its surroundings, offering an inspiring entryway to Lower Manhattan’s bustling transportation hub. This welcoming public space reflects our resiliency as a culture, embodying an uplifting sense of grace and vitality. At night, the Pavilion glows softly, a comforting beacon-like presence in the neighborhood.

Envisioning creative solutions for a challenging site

Positioned directly over the PATH train tunnel, the Pavilion is a severely constricted site with limited locations for structural support foundations. We collaborated with our engineering partners to create an expressive gateway composed of two fifty-four-foot steel basket columns that support the entire Pavilion. Graceful and tree-like, the twin columns mirror each other, their outer tubes spiraling in opposite directions. The intricate basketlike pattern is expressive and dynamic as light changes throughout the day.