"We will restore the southern portion of the terminal, cut below Houston Street to expose the rail beds and celebrate the history of the railroad. Highlighting this large-scale historic infrastructure, so crucial to the city's development, roots the building in history and place, while providing a foundation from which to build a contemporary biophilic workplace. The railway platforms, revealed in the cut facade as in a sectional drawing, will feature a landscape designed in collaboration with Future Green Studio, visually connecting pedestrians and occupants to nature and enhancing the newly opened streetscape. Nine new floors will rise above, inspired by the neighborhood's powerful working buildings.

Equivalent to two blocks, the site offers a huge opportunity to improve the connection of the West Village, SoHo and Hudson Square to the waterfront. A new public garden to the north and an avenue of gardens to the south will enclose the building, creating direct and welcoming pathways to Hudson River Park and extending public green space across West Street and the neighborhood. Because the building is located directly on the Hudson River Greenway, we designed the space to encourage bicycle commuting, connecting the workplace to a healthier and more sustainable commuting infrastructure through ample bicycle parking."

credit COOKFOX webpage : https://cookfox.com/projects/550-washington-2/