Xiyao Wang · CLIENT: Extended Play Lab
Urban Symbiosis is a mixed use supertall development above the 7 Train station in New York City, integrating condos, serviced apartments, and offices. Celebrating the great underground, the subway entrance is placed at the center, offering natural light and 24/7 public access. The design optimizes energy loads by combining office and residential programs, reducing grid pressure. Unlike traditional vertical stacking, a horizontal split forms two towers, creating shared public spaces with amenities like restaurants, co-working areas, and gyms for constant interaction.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Urban Symbiosis reimagines the traditional tower by horizontally splitting residential and office spaces, forming two interconnected towers. This innovative layout smooths energy demand by balancing daytime and nighttime usage, reducing grid pressure. A central subway entrance celebrates public access, while extensive shared amenities foster community interaction. The sunken garden at street level enhances urban experience, creating seamless connections with the High Line.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The tower is 237m or 777 ft tall, consists of 56 residential floors, and 43 office floors, with retail at the ground and underground levels.
- Tags
- highrise building, mix use, residential, office, mass timber, public transit
- Production Technology
- The design employed a mix of urban planning and architectural analysis. Advanced parametric tools were used to study the relationship between public access, energy efficiency, and user flow. Vertical stacking was replaced with a horizontal division of programs, creating integrated spaces. High-performance materials and all-electric systems were chosen to ensure sustainability, while shared amenities were carefully planned to enhance social interaction and community-building.
- Design Challenge
- The greatest challenge was achieving a balance between urban connectivity and energy efficiency. Ensuring 24-hour public access while maintaining the privacy of residential spaces required a complex design process. The horizontal split of programs presented structural and logistical difficulties, as did integrating shared public amenities without disrupting the functional core. Balancing public engagement with sustainability and energy performance was a key obstacle.
- Project Duration
- The ideal was first conceived in 2017, and carried out in 2024
- Operation Flow
- Urban Symbiosis optimizes energy use by balancing day-and-night occupancy of residential and office spaces, reducing strain on the power grid. The design's split tower layout creates more public interaction zones, like shared amenities, between residential and office functions. The central subway entrance and sunken garden promote 24-hour accessibility. This blend of private and public space boosts community engagement, making it perform better than conventional vertical designs.
- Research
- Research focused on balancing mixed-use program demands in high-density areas. Data was collected on energy consumption patterns and spatial usage in residential and office towers. Parametric modeling tools informed the horizontal split design, optimizing building efficiency and interaction. The resulting insights revealed that the design could improve energy loads, reduce grid pressure, and enhance public-private space integration, contributing to a sustainable and socially engaged urban development.
- Inspiration
- The inspiration for the project stemmed from the symbiosis between residential and office programs, aiming to optimize energy usage by aligning their differing time demands. Drawing from urban connectivity principles, the project integrates public spaces with private development, influenced by the dynamic interaction between work and home life. Research on mixed-use high-rise buildings shaped its energy efficiency and public access approach.
- Image Credits
- Xiyao Wang
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