At the southern tip of Manhattan, east and west sides of the island converge in the stunning eruption of skyscrapers, defining New York’s iconic skyline. During our Financial District Tour, we will explore the dynamic contrasts of old and new in this part of the city by examining its distinctive architecture, which speaks to New York’s colonial past as well as showcases some of its boldest contemporary developments. Key sites that will be discuss include Battery Park City, Wall Street, Frances Tavern, Stone Street, Trinity Church, World Trade Center, the 9/11 memorial, Fulton Station, and the revitalization of the East River waterfront.

From the historically diverse communities to cosmopolitan hot spots, the Lower East Side, Bowery, and SoHo have a fascinating history captured by the area’s architecture. During this tour, we discover this history by looking at some of the defining architectural typologies of these neighborhoods including the cast iron industrial spaces of Soho and tenement apartments of the LES as well stand-out contemporary buildings such as the New Museum by SANAA, Prada flagship boutique by Rem Koolhas, and Copper Union by Morphosis.

n a city renowned as an international art hub, the West Village and Chelsea stand out as two of New York’s most architecturally and culturally vibrant communities. The lively area around Washington Square Park is home to the NYU campus and many of its remarkable buildings. Directly north of the West Village, the converted industrial warehouses and factories of Chelsea are now home to one of the world’s densest concentrations of galleries making this area a driving force in the art world. Specific examples that will be discussed include Washington Square Park, NYU buildings, the Whitney Museum, the Standard Hotel, the High Line, Hudson Yards, Javits Center, Penn Station, and more. This tour will award 4 AIA-CES credits for continuing education by the American institute of Architects.

Situated at the heart of New York City, Midtown and its surrounding neighborhoods are the dynamic epicenter of the metropolis. This locality’s frenetic energy finds physical translation in the dazzling lights of Time Square and the ascendant skyscrapers of the business district. During this Midtown Manhattan Architecture Tour, we will chart the history of Midtown through its architecture, starting with examples from the early twentieth century and culminating with the latest additions to this area’s urban landscape.