MVRDV's first project in the US is a vibrantly colored mixed-use building in new york

MVRDV has broken ground on its first project in the US, a colorful mixed-use building conceived as a ‘vertical village’. located at 2420 amsterdam avenue in new york’s washington heights neighborhood, the project combines hotel, retail, and office programming within a series of vibrantly stacked blocks. the colors have been chosen to reflect the character of the existing neighborhood, while setting a direction for the area’s future development.

UPDATE: the project topped out in november 2020, reaching its full height of 22 stories. completion is expected in 2021.

all images © MVRDV, unless otherwise stated

designed by MVRDV for developer youngwoo & associates, the ‘radio tower & hotel’ comprises an asymmetrical stack of ceramic brick boxes with openings and roof terraces. these volumes are designed to appear as separate buildings, which take inspiration from the colors of the neighborhood’s shopfronts. the building provides much-needed hotel rooms for the area, and intends to serve as an important hub for those traveling for conferences hosted by the nearby yeshiva university and the new york presbyterian hospital.

open-air terraces offer sweeping views across the city

the hotel entry leads to a ground level courtyard space open to both users of the building and residents of the neighborhood, which will include a coffee bar and a community garden. meanwhile, the event space located in the building’s blue volume will provide locals with a venue to host weddings and other parties. street level retail space activates the ground floor.

the building comprises a series of vibrantly stacked blocks

‘radio tower & hotel, located at the thinnest part of manhattan island between the hudson and the harlem river, is a colorful new building which will strengthen an already wonderfully mixed and vibrant neighborhood,’ explains winy maas, principal and co-founder of MVRDV. ‘the building forms a ‘vertical village’ with blocks that are the same size as the surrounding buildings, thus avoiding the common drawback of large developments in which new skyscrapers overwhelm the existing character of the city. it will be a colorful, welcoming beacon for people entering manhattan.’

different colored ceramic bricks will be used throughout the scheme

MVRDV is collaborating with executive architect stonehill & taylor alongside a team including: workshop APD for interiors, cosentini associates for building systems, GACE for structural consultation, CANY technical services for façade engineering and filament hospitality. the building is planned to complete in 2021.

the entrance to the hotel at ground level

the project is located at 2420 amsterdam avenue in new york’s washington heights neighborhood

the building topped out in november 2020 | image © youngwoo & associates

the design takes inspiration from the colors of the neighborhood’s shopfronts

the development hopes to set a direction for the area’s future development

distribution of the building’s program

project info:

name: radio tower & hotel
location: 2420 amsterdam avenue, new york, USA
year: 2017+
client: youngwoo & associates
budget: undisclosed
program and size: 21,800 sqm mixed-use hotel, offices, and event spaces

architect: MVRDV
principal-in-charge: winy maas
partner: frans de witte
design team: fedor bron, mick van gemert, mark van den ouden, samuel delgado, ronald kam, fouad addou, daniele zonta, yassin matni, giuseppe carosini and giuseppe campo antico.
visualizations: antonio luca coco, kirill emelianov
images: © MVRDV

partners–
executive architect: stonehill & taylor architects interior design: workshop apd
hotel management: filament hospitality
building systems: cosentini associates
structural engineer: GACE consulting engineers dpc
façade engineer: CANY technical services, LCC