The Reconstruction of Astor Place & Cooper Square

Infrastructure, Plazas, Public Realm Frameworks

New York, NY

2016

A Design for Reclaiming Streets for a Revitalized Public Realm

Our design for Astor Place and Cooper Square reclaims more than one acre of paved street space to create a pedestrian-first urban district. Envisioning three interlinked plazas along the 4th Avenue axis, the design introduces dynamic, multifunctional public spaces. Each plaza is conceived as a unique experience, tied together by a cohesive program of materials and forms, bringing purpose to this once chaotic traffic hub.

Aerial view of Astor Place intersection with pedestrians, vehicles, and surrounding buildings. — Aerial view of the Astor Place intersection.

Astor Place and Cooper Square’s angled streets caused congestion, while long pedestrian crossings created a dangerous and fragmented experience for commuters, college students, and residents. This limited circulation left public spaces in the area largely unused, offering minimal opportunities for gathering. The absence of central, defining features and mixed use of materials made it difficult for the neighborhood to establish a distinct, cohesive identity.

Tree-lined plaza with people walking and sitting on benches, framed by urban buildings and a statue. — Urban plaza with a tree, curved bench, and people walking or sitting near historic and modern buildings.

Our plan for Astor Place and Cooper Square is a strategic reimagining of the public space, with the roadways becoming three linked plazas along 4th Avenue, each with a distinct character unified by elliptical forms, cohesive paving, and shared materials.

The project prioritizes pedestrian safety and accessibility with widened sidewalks along Peter Cooper Park. Traffic moves in defined paths, replacing previous chaos with order. Sustainability and resilience play a central role, with porous pavers, bioswales, and materials like high fly-ash concrete that manage stormwater and promote ecological health.

Inviting seating—granite blocks, stone steps, and signature "zipper benches"—fosters informal gathering and community engagement. The design celebrates local history, restoring cultural artifacts like Jim Power's mosaic lampposts and the historic subway kiosk. Flexibility means the public realm can host outdoor cafés, markets, and pop-up events, ensuring continued relevance as a vibrant civic hub.

Urban plaza with a tree, curved bench, and people walking or sitting near historic and modern buildings. — The signature zipper bench blends dynamic form with functionality.

This comprehensive vision came to life through strategic partnerships with celebrated arborist Piet Oudolf, landscape architects Quennell Rothschild & Partners, and Tillett Lighting Design. The collaboration yielded tangible results and expanded pedestrian space along the busy intersections from East 4th to East 9th Streets around Astor Place.

Stone seating and wildflower plantings create a serene plaza with historic buildings in the background. — Stone seating and native plantings create a vibrant public space.

The transformation of Astor Place and Cooper Square significantly impacts safety, accessibility, and urban vitality. The project closes a portion of the surrounding streets and makes some streets narrower and one-way, enabling the conversion of the area into pedestrian plazas, including the new Village Plaza, a two-block triangular space. Safety improves with new medians, expanded curbs, and the correction of hazardous intersections, making pedestrian crossings safer. Green enhancements, such as an expanded Peter Cooper Park, additional trees, and bioswales, improve storm drainage and create a more welcoming, sustainable public realm.