Thomas Heatherwick’s 2.4-acre Chelsea park at Pier 55, aka Little Island, continues to take shape above the Hudson River. More of the funnel-shaped concrete pots have been installed on the western end of the project, which reaches 62 feet high at its peak. Large black sheets are spread out across the tops of the sloped surfaces, most likely indicating that a concrete pour recently occurred. Work is being managed by the Hudson River Park Trust (HRPT), and MNLA is designing the landscaping.
Photos from early January show the recent state of Pier 55.
Pier 55. Photo by Michael Young
Pier 55. Photo by Michael Young
Pier 55. Photo by Michael Young
Pier 55. Photo by Michael Young
Pier 55. Photo by Michael Young
Pier 55. Photo by Michael Young
Pier 55. Photo by Michael Young
Pier 55. Photo by Michael Young
Pier 55. Photo by Michael Young
Viewed from across the Hudson River from Hoboken, the perimeter of the park appears substantially finished with only the inside piles and pods of the structure left to be completed. The old arched frame for the Cunard Pier 54 has been left standing untouched at the southern entrance to Little Island, but its steel is due to refurbished sometime this year. This entrance will lead to a slightly inclined walkway that traverses underneath several of the precast concrete pots, while a secondary entrance to the north will bend around the park. It looks like most of the surface has been poured with concrete, and only the northern portion with the exposed and laid steel rebar remains.
A small lone pine tree was spotted at the highest point of Pier 55. When finished, the park will be home to over 100 species of trees and shrubs.
Pier 55, photo by Michael Young
Pier 55 is a short walk from the High Line with staircases at the corners of Tenth Avenue and West 14th Street and West 16th Street. The two entrances to Pier 55 currently fence off a portion of Hudson River Park with temporary pedestrian paths that wind around the construction gates. The permanent walking paths, landscaping, pavers, and waterfront seating will be finalized when construction nears completion.
Pier 55 is expected to open in spring 2021.
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What a cool and strange thing this is.
Can’t wait for it’s completion.
Great photographs !!
Michael Young is really one of the greats — captures every angle in a complete way.
Hope they got their expansion joints engineered properly,and besides that,the correct water proofing and drainage issues accounted for,could be challenging,given all those individual integrated componants.Good luck Diane,my neighbor up here in the Cloud Walk area of New Milford Ct.
You say the old arched frame will be refurbished. I hope they don’t paint over or sand blast it. If you look closely you can see the name Curnard and White Star.it would be sad to see that gone.
I think it’s going to be delightful. Heatherwick has the unusual talent of making whimsical architecture work.
Amazing close ups and distant panoramas of the growing pods. Thanks Michael!
I concur strongly with FC, above. Refurbish the Cunard-White Star sign, but do not blot the history. I’m a strong traditionalist when it comes to architecture, but must admit this project is fascinating and I can’t wait for it to be completed.
Hi I like the creativity of little island its really nice and unique it would be nice if it have five star restaurants and entertainment and music it already has the creativity and the scenery now this place need to come to life this can be the it place that everyone will come to and people that visit New York this will be on their list to come and visit I can see the vision in my head I hope it will be a beautiful place to visit but not be boring