As a wave of new and reimagined buildings takes shape across New York City, architects are embracing design that both honors the city’s heritage and meets the evolving needs of its residents and workers. From adaptive reuse of industrial structures to cutting-edge office towers, the city’s built environment is entering a new era of thoughtful, high-concept construction.

One of the most striking developments is JPMorgan Chase’s new 70-story Midtown headquarters, set to open in 2025. Designed by Foster & Partners, the tower is among the first born of new zoning rules meant to revitalize Midtown East with state-of-the-art commercial spaces. The building’s triangular steel bracing and massive outdoor plaza on Madison Avenue reflect a focus on permanence and presence.

“It’s interesting just for its sheer scale,” said Gustavo Rodriguez, founder of GR Design Lab. “It’s going to put a lot of pressure on other existing buildings to renovate just to keep competitive.” He added, “The office is not dead and this tower proves it.”

Downtown, Rafael Viñoly’s final design is taking shape at The Greenwich, a condo tower in the Financial District. With its curved window corners and carefully rotated structural beams, the building offers expansive views while subtly referencing the lens of a camera.

“We decided to slightly curve the corners of the building so you have this perspective view... where it’s almost like you’re looking through a camera lens,” said Jim Herr, a principal at Rafael Viñoly Architects. Interior designer Elliot March added, “We didn’t want the interior design to compete with the views.”

Historic preservation is another dominant theme in the city’s transformation. In Chelsea, the Terminal Warehouse — originally built in 1891 — is undergoing one of the largest adaptive reuse efforts in NYC history. Designed by CookFox, the project introduces 1.1 million square feet of office space and a newly carved-out courtyard, with original rail tracks encased in glass to remind tenants of the building’s freight-era roots.

“These are windows into the past,” said CookFox architect Darin Reynolds. “There’s something important about connecting people who live in New York City today... People like historic neighborhoods. They love SoHo, they love the West Village... these neighborhoods have that authentic character of the past.”

The past also takes center stage at the Waldorf Astoria, which is set to reopen in 2025 after an extensive overhaul by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The reimagining splits the building into 375 hotel rooms and 375 condominiums.

“This is much more than a new interior decoration of a renovation,” said Frank Mahan of SOM. “It’s almost an entirely new building within the existing structure.”

Meanwhile, the renovation of Penn 2—an office tower above Penn Station—demonstrates how aging infrastructure can be revitalized with modern flair. MdeAS added a massive illuminated canopy called “the Bustle,” which floats above Seventh Avenue and leads to redesigned entrances for Penn Station and Madison Square Garden.

“It transforms it into a magical space,” said architect Mike Zaborski. “That was one of the major constraints we had with the design. Solving it was the first piece of the puzzle.”

Smaller yet equally impactful projects round out this architectural renaissance. In the Meatpacking District, Leica Camera opened its flagship U.S. store in a once-overlooked industrial building. Format Architecture Office replaced the crumbling brick facade with one inspired by camera apertures, bringing new identity and intrigue.

“There are all these hotels and other high-rises and this building was kind of stuck between them and nobody really knew what to do with it,” said architect Andrew McGee. “It sat here and fell into disrepair.”

Future-looking projects such as JFK Airport’s Terminal 6, designed by Corgan and inspired by dance choreography, and Freshkills Park—a Staten Island landfill turned into the city’s second-largest park—underscore a commitment to sustainable, expressive design.

“The dance for JFK Terminal 6 is cohesively threaded by the wing-like structure,” said Barry Yanku of Corgan. “Passengers find a variety of memorable moments — vibrant and dynamic and, at times, smaller and subtle.”

At Freshkills, designers from Field Operations are turning a former landfill into a space of community, ecology and beauty.

The common thread through all of these developments? A shift in priorities toward buildings that don't just meet practical needs, but also connect emotionally with those who experience them. As Rodriguez said, “Now we are seeing the city and developers recognize the value of design as a must-have, as opposed to just something that would be nice to have. Consumers realize they can inhabit spaces... that are there to celebrate their lives.”

Originally reported by Andy Peters in Co Star.