1st Place, Wild Card
Making an architectural statement in Midtown Manhattan is no easy task. Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall: Everywhere you look is an iconic landmark. It was in that environment that the Rockefeller family tasked its family architect to design a sunken courtyard during the expansion of Rockefeller Center in the 1960s.
Adorned with a reflecting pool surrounded by planetary sculptures and anchored by a large bookstore, the 200- by 111-foot Plaza at 1221 Avenue of the Americas was meant to represent the company’s scientific publishing business. As time passed, the plaza became a pass-through from the building to the subway, has had some limited programming for building tenants and been host to a café with outdoor seating. But it had lost some of its flourish.
“As the business district evolved around it, the plaza remained unchanged, presenting Rockefeller Group with a rare opportunity to reimagine its role within the neighborhood as an activated gathering space,” says Allison Stadnyck, RA, LEED AP ID+C, managing associate/senior project manager with TPG Architecture, the architect of record for the plaza retrofit project. “The concept for the renovation was designed to create greater accessibility to the courtyard and make it more inviting for New Yorkers and visitors alike. The renovation also aimed to introduce in-building access to the Rockefeller Center subway concourse and underground connection points to neighboring buildings. The team translated this vision into reality to transform the plaza for the modern era.”
Rockefeller Group’s privately owned public plaza at 1221 Avenue of the Americas sits at the heart of one of Manhattan’s busiest and most dynamic neighborhoods—fronting the west side of Avenue of the Americas between 48th and 49th Streets, one block south of Radio City Music Hall. 
The new design features a top-of-stairs layout that runs lengthwise along the sidewalk, which opens the entire space to passersby. 
Embracing and enabling the concept design with architectural expertise, the plaza has been transformed into a gathering space. The inclusive and welcoming courtyard adds a new point of vibrancy to the city and elevates 1221 Avenue of the Americas’ position within the city’s rich history. 
The new stairs are wider and straighter than their predecessors and have larger stadium-style steps toward the interior. 
The expansion of the new plaza created more space on the upper level while adhering to the requirements of the existing space. Because the design team added an elevator to ensure ADA compliance, the team added a tree to a planter elsewhere to meet City Planning Commission’s regulations. 
The renovation aimed to introduce in-building access to the Rockefeller Center subway concourse and underground connection points to neighboring buildings. 
At the base, a new MTA entrance replaces the former 80- by 100-foot covered exterior space. 
The team implemented steel framing on the north side and a concrete slab to the south to reinforce the structure. The project required diligent coordination with project partners to integrate an MTA entrance and concrete seating. 
The project required diligent coordination with project partners to integrate an MTA entrance and concrete seating. 
The plaza is a testament to the team’s commitment to innovation in shaping communities and the built environment. 
BEFORE: Passersby pause for a sheep shearing demonstration in the sunken plaza not long after it opened in 1973. PHOTO: Hum Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images 
BEFORE: With its tower set back from the street, 1221 Avenue of the Americas is fronted by a generous plaza. PHOTO: Dave Kubicek 
A longitudinal section overview of the plaza project showcases its diverse components, including retail areas, cellars and a subway concourse. DRAWING: TPG Architecture 
The site plan illustrates the comprehensive renovation of the 1221 Avenue of the Americas Plaza, highlighting the expanded retail area, redefined multi-level layout and integrated MTA entrance. DRAWING: TPG Architecture
PHOTOS: Tom Sibley unless otherwise noted
Aesthetics and Accessibility
Recognizing the need for revitalization, the Rockefeller Group undertook a $50 million renovation to transform the plaza into a more accessible and inviting gathering space. TPG Architecture was brought on in part for its expertise and experience working with New York City building projects. The firm was part of a highly collaborative project team that included design firm ACPV Architects and Turner Construction.
“We worked through the many technical, architectural, and structural details to ensure that the renovation aligned with the modern demands of the building tenants and public,” Stadnyck says. “The project required careful attention to detail to meet the City Planning Commission regulations, particularly regarding the placement of trees and seating.”
The project team had several principal goals for the plaza update, and aesthetics was top of mind. The original design emphasized a visual and physical separation for the Avenue of the Americas to create a contrast between the retail below and office space above. Although that served a purpose, it did limit the plaza’s use. The renovation sought to enhance visual appeal, bring in light and space, and create a more inviting atmosphere.
Accessibility was another important objective. To make the plaza more inviting and functional, the retrofit integrated in-building access to the Rockefeller Center subway concourse and created a seamless connection to neighboring buildings.
“The renovation addressed the functional limitations of the old layout by removing obsolete features, like the dark, covered exterior space, and optimizing the area for seating and gathering,” explains Nelson Mejia, RA, managing associate/studio director with TPG Architecture. “The new layout offers more usable space and better accommodates the needs of tenants and the public. The existing plaza was elevated, creating an obstacle for users to get to it other than via steps on the east and west sides. By bringing the grade plaza to the sidewalk level it opened the plaza to the public at large and made the sunken plaza more visible.”
Opening Up
Changes to the plaza’s form and function were central to this renovation project. The original layout of the plaza included dog-legged sets of stairs in the north and south corners, which took up usable square footage in the place. ACPV Architects’ new design opens the area with a top-of-stairs layout that runs lengthwise along the sidewalk. The new stairs are wider and straighter than the original ones and have larger stadium-?style steps toward the interior.
“One challenge our team faced was integrating the MTA entrance at the base of the new stairs,” Stadnyck says. “We needed to demolish the former 80- by 100-foot covered exterior space, which was dark and uninviting. By transforming it into a double-height area filled with natural sunlight, it re-?engaged the retail space and enhanced its connection to the surrounding environment.”
“To accommodate the new stairs, a new MTA entrance, and the sloping street, we implemented steel framing on the north side and a concrete slab to the south to reinforce the structure,” Mejia explains. “The addition of an elevator for ADA compliance required the removal of a mature tree, which per City Planning Commission regulations needed to be replaced in-kind. This necessitated above-grade planters because the required root depth wasn’t possible with the below-grade subway concourse.”
Another challenge came in creating a connection between the concourse and retail area below, which had been accessible via a lower-level transit entrance.
“ACPV’s design aimed to improve visibility and re-engage the lower retail level, increasing foot traffic and making the space feel safer by introducing daylight and open sightlines,” Stadnyck says. “Initially, the space had only one exit and no glass, making it feel like an enclosed tunnel. The team incorporated glass in the first 8 feet to allow in daylight. Structural limitations required the use of frosted glass for the remaining section to maintain the desired effect.”
Since its completion in 2023, the reaction to the finished project has been overwhelmingly positive. The updated plaza attracts locals, as well as visitors from all around the world, contributing to the architectural fabric of the historic neighborhood. It’s a project that brings a great deal of pride to all those who were part of it.
“The inclusive and welcoming courtyard adds a new point of vibrancy to the city, making it feel like a natural part of the built environment,” Stadnyck says. “It has been incredible to see this space come to life, transforming 1221 Avenue of the Americas and enhancing its role in the city’s rich history. We’ve had the privilege of working on similar public-access projects, and it’s so rewarding to be part of something this significant in reshaping the face of New York City in such a meaningful way.”
A skillfully detailed renovation of a congested Manhattan plaza. The things the team was dealing with—a connection to the subway and elevators and high-rise and low-rise lobbies—is really a transportation solution strategy, culminating in a space to enjoy.
Kenneth DeMuth, AIA, partner, Pappageorge Haymes Partners
Retrofit Team
Architect of Record: TPG Architecture
Owner/Developer: Rockefeller Group
Design Architect: ACPV Architects
General Contractor: Turner Construction
Lighting Designer: ONELUX
MEP Engineer: AKF
Structural Engineer: Gilsanz Murray Steficek
Civil Engineer and Landscape Architect: Langan
Glass Installer: W&W Glass
Materials
Custom Railing around Sunken Plaza: Lafayette
Upper Plaza Planters and Benches: Granite, Cambrian Black
Lower Plaza Stone Pavers and Grand Stair and Bleachers: Granite, White Moncini
Interior Flooring (Circulation Spaces): Epoxy Terrazzo
