Disney New York HQ

SCAPE designed exterior roof terraces and streetscape for the new headquarters of the Walt Disney Company’s operations in Lower Manhattan. Located in an historic printmaking district, the SOM-designed building is comprised of several 19-story towers organized around a series of cascading terraces matching the scale of Hudson Square below—nearly 429,800 square feet overall.

Greening the surrounding skyline and blending into its industrial context, the rooftop terraces comprise a series of flexible spaces for working and relaxing. Additional terraces are allocated for social functions, dining, and various programs and events. The terraces’ modular, kit-of-parts design will allow the company to adapt to its changing needs over time, inspired by the subdivided typesets found in historic printing presses around the area. Plantings create an immersive experience within each terrace while also capturing stormwater runoff and meeting requirements for both Wellness and LEED certification. At the base of the building, a revamped streetscape complements retail amenities along the ground floor.