ASLA-NY has recognized Presidio Tunnel Tops with the 2025 Award of Excellence. Presidio Tunnel Tops reimagines a once-elevated highway into a vibrant, ecologically rich 14 acres of public space. Built atop 7 lanes of Presidio Parkway tunnels, the new landscape stitches together historic parklands with the San Francisco Bay. Designed by Field Operations, this project transforms infrastructure into an immersive experience that choreographs movement, topography, and ecology to create an open, accessible pedestrian connection.
Juried by an interdisciplinary team of professionals from the ASLA Florida Chapter, the jury said, "Rooted in a philosophy of renewal and resilience, Presidio Tunnel Tops exemplifies sustainability through its thoughtful use of reclaimed materials, water-conscious planting, and low-impact construction. Rather than imposing on the landscape, it regenerates it—setting a new standard for public space that is enduring, inclusive, and ecologically attuned to the future."
Read the press release from ASLA-NY here.
Field Operations celebrated the opening of Overlook Walk on Seattle's Waterfront with a ribbon cutting by Mayor Harrell and the City of Seattle on October 4. This milestone marks the near completion of Seattle's massive Waterfront Park transformation, one that began with a comprehensive framework plan that kicked off in 2010 with Field Operations as urban design lead.
Creating a new pedestrian destination and journey between the city and the waterfront in the footprint of the former Alaskan Way Viaduct, Overlook Walk effectively links the historic Pike Place Market with the Seattle Aquarium, Pier 62, Waterfront Park, and Elliott Bay. With expansive views of Elliott Bay, play areas, new public plazas, and lushly planted gardens, Overlook Walk is a new iconic landmark for Seattle.
Learn more about Overlook Walk and the transformation of the central waterfront with the City of Seattle's Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects.
The International Federation of Landscape Architects announced James Corner as the 2024 recipient of the premier worldwide award in landscape architecture: the IFLA Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe Award. The award ceremony was held in Istanbul at the 2024 IFLA World Congress, where James also shared a keynote presentation. The IFLA Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe Award is the preeminent prize for landscape architects and the highest honor IFLA can bestow. It recognizes a living landscape architect whose lifetime achievements and contributions have had a unique and lasting impact on the welfare of society and the environment and on the promotion of the profession of landscape architecture.
Read the press release from IFLA here.
Join us on April 28 at the The Temple Emanu-El to discuss the impact, legacy, and current and future status of historic preservation in New York City with Lisa Switkin, Partner at Field Operations.
Meant to inspire reflection, hope, and excitement about the future of New York City, Lisa will be discussing her contributing piece to the recently published book, Beyond Architecture: The New New York.
Learn more about the event and register at The Temple Emanu-El Streicker Cultural Center's website.
The 1,400 acre Philadelphia Navy Yard and 598 acre Baltimore Middle Branch have been recognized with ASLA PA-DE Awards.
The Reimagine Middle Branch Plan presents a powerful, long-term vision to connect South Baltimore communities with one another and their waterfront. The Plan envisions a physical, environmental, and economic transformation of the Middle Branch, aiming to foster equity and inclusion through innovative park and shoreline improvements alongside public programs, partnerships, policies, job opportunities, and economic development initiatives.
The Navy Yard Plan, developed in partnership with Ensemble Investments and Mosaic Development Partners JV, envisions a vibrant, mixed-use, mixed-income neighborhood that will support the Navy Yard’s evolution into a 24/7 community. Sustainable infrastructure, multimodal transportation options, street-facing ground-floor uses, and essential neighborhood services define the project—creating a truly connected, accessible, and distinctive place to live and work.
Congratulations to our project partners and to all the recipients.
Lisa Switkin, Partner at Field Operations, was invited to speak at the most recent Sunday at The Met event feauturing the exhibition Caspar David Friedrich: The Soul of Nature.
The panel discussed the ongoing and changing relationship with the natural world, how artists capture this unique dynamic, and how we consider timely issues in an evolving natural environment.
Learn more about the event and visit the exhibit at The MET's website.
Join us on March 17 at the Center for Brooklyn History to explore the past, present, and future of historic preservation. Lisa Switkin, Partner at Field Operations, will be discussing her essay "Living Landmarks: Toward an Ecological Worldview" in the recently published book, Beyond Architecture: The New New York.
Commissioned by the NYC Landmarks60 Alliance, Beyond Architecture: The New New York is a volume of essays that commemorates the 60th anniversary of the passage of the New York City Landmarks Law. This collection of essays move beyond architecture to examine the past, present, and future of New York City with creative and careful analyses of subjects that will stimulate thought, discussion, and action as we move toward a new New York.
Learn more about the event and register at CBH's website and purchase a copy of the book here.
On January 16th, The Chicago Plan Commission approved the 1901 Project, the United Center Joint Venture’s $7B, 55-acre mixed-use development project that would fill in the acres of parking lots surrounding the Bulls and Blackhawks’ shared arena.
The project re-connects the United Center to surrounding neighborhoods and creates a world-class urban core for Chicago’s West Side, with over 10 acres of public space included in Phase I.
“The 1901 Project reshapes the West Side of Chicago with an amazing and unique public green space at its center. The new public areas accommodate a variety of active spaces for sport and exercise, intimate spaces for rest and recreation, spaces for arts, culture and events, terraces for dining, a large inclusive play area for all age groups, and a network of journeys through and around the site. This varied mix of spaces will establish the project as a welcoming destination for everyone, attracting visitors year-round,” said Matt Grunbaum, Associate Partner at Field Operations.
Learn more about the project at the Chicago Tribune article.
Manhattan West has been recognized as a Finalist for the 2025 ULI New York Award for Excellence in Development in the Urban Open Space category.
Manhattan West’s 2.4 acres of open space forms a major new public realm at the heart of this ambitious mixed-use development connecting 9th and 10th Avenues and 31st and 33rd Street in New York. This sequence of lushly planted public spaces provides a diverse range of spatial experiences, accommodating a variety of intimate spaces for rest and recreation, broad open spaces for arts and cultural events, terraces and overlooks for dining and viewing, and a network of journeys through and around (including connecting to the High Line and to Hudson Yards).
With spectacular towers designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, ingeniously structurally lofted over rail tracks below, this grand urban ensemble creates a distinctive and vibrant neighborhood, bustling with life and movement.
Special thanks to the client and owner, Brookfield Properties, for their vision and leadership.
If you're in New York City, be sure to check out this new urban space that knits together the Midtown business district and Moynihan Station with the newly developed Hudson Yards and Chelsea neighborhoods.
Join us for a lively conversation on how to design successful outdoor spaces that create energizing places of gathering, recreation, and play.
Moderated by The Architect's Newspaper Trading Notes, the talk will focus on sustainability as a pressing priority for landscape architects in both its social and material aspects. Isabel Castilla, Associate Partner at Field Operations, will be a featured speaker at the event.
Learn more about the event and register at the Trading Notes website.
This year we're celebrating over twenty years of the High Line's development, and fifteen years since its opening in 2009.
As part of their Future Fest 2024, Architizer is hosting a series of lectures with guest speakers. Join us with Isabel Castilla, Associate Partner at Field Operations, to learn more about how the High Line is an icon for innovative design, a defining feature in its neighborhood, a powerful catalyst for investment and an inspiration to cities worldwide.
Learn more about the event and register at Architizer's website.
The Architect's Newspaper has awarded the 2024 Best of Design Award in the Landscape category to Presidio Tunnel Tops!
As part of this year's awards, The Hudson River Park's Gansevoort Peninsula received an Honorable Mention in the Landscape category and The Underline Phase 3 received an Honorable Mention in the Unbuilt—Landscape, Master Plan & Urban Design category!
Check out the full list of winners of AN’s 2024 Best of Design Awards and the shortlist of Honorable Mentions on the linked websites.
Matt Grunbaum, Associate Partner at Field Operations, was interviewed by Monocle for The Urbanist.
With an influential audience of city mayors, urban planners and architects, The Urbanist is Monocle’s guide to making better cities. In the latest episode, Monocle’s Ed Stocker reports from Turin’s annual festival of urbanism, Utopian Hours, where a collection of inspiring speakers discussed everything from meanwhile spaces to climate resilience.
Matt discussed what inspires our design process at Field Operations and the importance of great public spaces within our cities by highlighting our work for Tongva Park, Overlook Walk Seattle and the High Line. In the interview, he emphasizes that "a great public realm is a one that connects spaces within a city, provides multiple uses and is geared towards people."
Listen to the full interview on Monocle's website.
Join us for a discussion between New York and London on rethinking streetscapes to prioritize people, create dynamic and sustainable environments, and enhance the public realm. Co-organized by the AIANY Global Dialogues Committee and New London Architecture, this event brings together experts from both cities to share insights on rethinking streetscapes by reallocating space in favor of people. Joining Alexis Taylor from NYCEDC, Larisa Ortiz from Streetsense, and panelists from London, Isabel Castilla from Field Operations will share more about efforts for the Future of Fifth project in New York. Focusing on two globally famous streets, Oxford Street in London and Fifth Avenue in New York, the panel discussion will explore the transformation needed to create dynamic, sustainable environments and enhance the public realm, strengthening the global status of both streets.
Learn more about the event and register at the AIANY website.
As part of the APA 2024 National Planning Awards, the Reimagine Middle Branch Plan received a Planning Excellence Award!
Reconnecting 19 neighborhoods in South Baltimore with their 11-mile waterfront on the Patapsco River, the Plan comprises 40 projects aimed at improving the environment, catalyzing economic growth, activating parks and open spaces, and celebrating the area's cultural heritage. The planning team prioritized community collaboration, recruiting 150 residents and technical experts to serve on advisory committees and ensure the alignment of priorities with residents of South Baltimore. Action-oriented projects that included Splash!, the Morgan State University Fellowship Program, and the Community Design Lab allowed the Plan to reach the public in new and creative ways.
Field Operations is honored to accept this award with our collaborators from the planning team: Mahan Rykiel Associates, Design Jones, Moffatt & Nichol, Toole Design Group, Biohabitats, Waldon Studio, Assedo Consulting, The Urban Studio, Kofi Boone, Public Mechanics, Urbane Development, Dharam Consulting and KG&A
Learn more about the Plan and the award on the APA website.
Mayor Eric Adams and the Future of Fifth Partnership unveiled plans to transform Fifth Avenue and the 20 blocks between Bryant Park and Central Park into a world-class, pedestrian-centered boulevard, bolstering the iconic corridor’s status as an economic engine and job creator for New York City. With expanded tree-lined sidewalks, shortened crosswalks that make for safer crossings, reduced traffic lanes, and additional planting and lighting, the design will create a revitalized, vibrant identity for Fifth Avenue.
Led by New York City and the Future of Fifth Partnership with various NYC agencies, Field Operations' design partners include Arcadis, Sam Schwartz Engineering, and Public Works Partners.
Read more about the vision in The New York Times, Curbed, and learn more at our upcoming public meeting.
We are excited to announce that Field Operations, in collaboration with Brook McIlroy, has been selected to design the next phase of Toronto’s The Bentway. The new site, The Bentway Islands, will transform three large traffic islands, covering a total of 11,500 square meters beneath the Gardiner Expressway into a vibrant, iconic, and sustainable public space for Toronto.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with The Bentway, the City of Toronto, and the local community to reimagine this site beneath the Gardiner Expressway. Our goal is to create an iconic, vibrant and sustainable public space that embodies The Bentway’s vision. Partnering with Brook McIlroy, we are excited to combine our firms' expertise in creating transformative, high-impact public spaces, bringing to life a truly extraordinary new space for Toronto," said Isabel Castilla, Associate Partner at Field Operations.
Check out the official announcement from The Bentway Conservancy, and media coverage in The Globe and Mail, The Architect's Newspaper, and Designlines.
Matt Grunbaum will give a talk about the design philosophy of Field Operations and some of the firm's most significant projects including the High Line at Utopian Hours 2024. The first international festival of city making in Italy, Utopian Hours highlights the ideas, projects and places that are improving life in the world’s cities with a three-day festival now in its eighth edition.
Learn more about the festival and Matt's talk here.
As part of Archtober, Field Operations will lead a Building of the Day tour for Gansevoort Peninsula with nARCHITECTS.
Hudson River Park’s Gansevoort Peninsula builds on the site’s history as part of NYC’s active waterfront, creating a more resilient urban shoreline that allows New Yorkers to reconnect and engage with the Hudson River. Inspired by community feedback, the park balances active and passive spaces for lounging, fitness, and recreation and transforms a former DSNY operations site to reflect the neighborhood’s needs, celebrate its history, and imagine a new future for the estuary.
Learn more about the tour and register on the Archtober website.
As part of Archtober, Field Operations will lead a Building of the Day tour for Domino Square with Studio Cadena.
Domino Square is a new one-acre public space that will expand the public realm along the Williamsburg waterfront and connect it more seamlessly with the surrounding neighborhood. Designed as a new civic room, the Square features welcoming and active edges with neighborhood-oriented retail and a central plaza for various events such as farmers’ markets, community gatherings, movie nights, arts and cultural performances, and ice skating in the winter.
Learn more about the tour and register on the Archtober website.