About the Project
Right next to Grand Concourse and just steps from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, you’ll find Lou Gehrig Plaza. It’s located in the center of the 161st Street Business Improvement District, and despite its central location, residents had expressed a desire to see more shade and seating. The 161st Street BID teamed up with a multidisciplinary design team to solve the problem.
Sighte Studio, Habitat Workshop and MUD Workshop worked closely with the BID and the community to design and construct the SAIL installation, a “place within a space.” The piece features dichroic panels that move with the breeze and seating blocks that the community helped paint and decorate.
In summer 2024, the team welcomed Bronx residents to officially unveil the SAIL installation with live music, ice sculptures and celebration. The team also developed a vision plan for Lou Gehrig Plaza and other public spaces in the 161st Street corridor that enhances the pedestrian experience and creates opportunities for rest and community gathering.
Looking forward, the BID plans to implement ideas from the plan, including the expansion of their pilot installation that provides seating, shading, and lighting in Lou Gehrig Plaza.
Learn More About the Project
Explore the team’s full report on their process, findings, and vision for what’s next.
Explore the team’s presentation at the Local Center Summit in November 2024.
Team
161st Street BID was created to provide a vibrant commercial district and improve the quality of life for those who live, work, visit and shop on 161st Street in the Bronx. They aim to keep the streets clean, promote commerce and enrich the area through special events and cultural projects.
Trey Jenkins
Michael Torres
MUD Workshop is a minority and woman-owned urban design and planning firm dedicated to community-centric revitalization of neighborhoods and public places. Habitat Workshop is a minority and woman-owned architecture and urban design practice dedicated to creating spaces, objects, and interactions that activate human connections, build resiliency, and reveal the intrinsic value of a place. Sighte Studio is a woman-owned architectural lighting design studio committed to the creation of beautiful, functional and just spaces.
Shachi Pandey
Gabriella Getacho
Jan Niyomwas
Lydia Li
Jieun Yang
Farzana Ramnath
Francesca Bastianini
Iris Ahn
Robyn Bohn
Phillips Lytle LLP is providing legal support across the project teams.
Molly Brennan
Shengkai Xu
Jocelyn Ng
Flora Donovan
Image credit: Cameron Blaylock and partner organizations
Support
Connected Corridors projects are made possible with support from National Grid’s Project C, NYC Department of Small Business Services, Charles H. Revson Foundation, Deutsche Bank, the NYC Green Fund, administered by City Parks Foundation, and Lily Auchincloss Foundation. The Local Center is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Urban Design Forum programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
To learn more about supporting the Local Center, please contact Katherine Sacco, katherine@urbandesignforum.org and Lauren Nye, lauren.n@anhd.org.