Located in the vibrant heart of Manhattan, St. John’s Terminal stands as a testament to innovative urban redevelopment, transforming a former railway terminus into a cutting-edge hub for technology and creativity. This iconic building now serves as the North American headquarters for GOOGLE’s global business organization, marking a significant chapter in its storied history. Once the terminus of The High Line, St. John’s Terminal has been ingeniously redesigned to incorporate expansive landscape terraces, boasting approximately 1.5 acres of lush greenery planted with native New York habitats.
Originally situated along the shoreline, the entry plaza and the beautifully enhanced streetscape create a welcoming gateway to Hudson River Park. Urban design enhancements extend to a new mid-block crosswalk, seamlessly connecting the terminal to the park, and a verdant streetscape bridging Washington Street and the West Side Highway.
The publicly accessible entry plaza offers an immersive garden experience, characterized by thriving, resilient understory plantings and groves of native trees. The design is inspired by natural shoreline aesthetics, featuring planted berms and natural boulders, harmonized with geometric stone seating and paving sourced from upstate New York. Ascending to the 2nd floor, the building’s history is subtly revealed as the original train tracks and platforms emerge, now artfully integrated into the landscape with native trees, shrubs, and groundcover, creating the illusion of spontaneous natural growth. Adding to the ecological richness, seven stories of window boxes on the north façade act as an ecological ladder, facilitating the movement of local birds and insects from the plaza to the 12th-floor terrace. Remarkably, NYC Audubon has documented around 40 bird species utilizing the habitat at St. John’s Terminal, including species previously unrecorded on a green roof.
The terraces collectively provide a diverse array of workspaces designed to foster collaboration and inspire innovation. The 4th-floor terrace, located on the roof of the original structure, subtly nods to its industrial heritage through distinctive architectural elements like wind-mitigation screens, pergolas, and intimate seating nooks. The events terrace is designed to accommodate visitors from the auditorium, offering a large adaptable space, planted islands, fossilized limestone bar counters, and pergolas.
The 11th floor features a remarkable quarter-mile-long, 360-degree walking path, providing a tranquil escape with breathtaking panoramic views of the waterfront and the Manhattan skyline. This walking path is enveloped by plantings inspired by the Dutch term “Bloemendaal,” or “Valley of Flowers,” evoking the pre-development natural beauty of Manhattan. On the 12th-floor terrace, employees can reconnect with nature in the meditation garden, featuring rocky outcroppings and delicate alpine plants, and in secluded seating areas nestled within the Pine Grove. A spacious lawn with gentle rolling topography, a bosque of oak trees, and catenary lights supports a variety of uses, from wellness programs to informal happy hour gatherings and lunchtime picnics.
Sustainability is deeply integrated into every aspect of St. John’s Terminal. Repurposed timber, salvaged from the historic Coney Island boardwalk after Hurricane Sandy, is utilized for decking, furniture, and windscreens across the terraces, adding a layer of historical and environmental consciousness. The project includes the planting of 100 new trees on site, further enhancing its green footprint. Solar arrays strategically positioned across the terraces are projected to generate approximately 100 kilowatts of renewable energy. Furthermore, the site’s design is engineered to retain up to 92,000 gallons of rainwater, showcasing a commitment to responsible water management. St. John’s Terminal exemplifies how urban spaces can be reimagined to harmonize technological advancement with ecological responsibility.
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