512 West 22nd Street, Office Building

Biophilia is defined as the inherent human inclination to affiliate with nature. The 4th of the 6 Principles of Biophilic Design regards Light and Space: How and why humans react to light in all its forms (warm, cool, shaped, filtered, diffused, inside vs. outside).

512 West 22nd Street, New York, New York

Client/Owner
The Albanese Organization, Vornado Realty Trust

Architect
COOKFOX

Landscape Designer
MKM Landscape Architectura PC

Photography
William Psolka, Psolka Photography

Year completed
2019

First Place winner 2021 GM Lighting Award of Excellence

Recipient of the 2020 IES Illumination Award of Merit

Rising above the New York City High Line is a commercial office building that strives to be one with nature. Walkways, stairways, and hidden gardens of various sizes wrap the exterior on every floor, totaling over 16,000 sq.ft of outdoor space. The lighting is designed not only to provide necessary egress illumination, but also to accent the landscape and create whimsy. These terraces are meant to be explored by the tenants, and the lighting design is key in promoting the discovery of the carefully selected greenery and building materials.

In addition to welcoming commercial tenants at the start of their workday, this office building lobby also serves as a gallery for rotating art exhibits and gathering space for special events. The unique interior architecture and selected materials created an opportunity for integrated lighting solutions that highlight the surfaces and textures as well as artwork.