In the heart of Astoria, Queens, Innovation QNS transforms an underperforming light industrial district into a mixed-use neighborhood. Envisioned as a “15-Minute City,” the development blends affordable and market-rate housing, office space, hotels, retail, entertainment, and community facilities, served by multiple subway and bus lines providing access to Midtown Manhattan and other major city hubs.
Over two acres of publicly accessible open spaces stitch together the five-block development. Plazas serve as midblock connections, providing relief from long city blocks and alleviating a prior severe parks shortage in the neighborhood. Each space functions individually with focused programming, but together, they form a complete network with engaging attractions for all ages. The amenities include contemplative gardens, athletic facilities, technology plazas, covered markets, multi-age play spaces, and a civic park that promises to become a landmark community gathering space and common ground for all of Astoria.
SWA/Balsley collaborated with ODA, Silverstein Properties, Bedrock LLC, and Kaufman Astoria Studios to guide the project through conceptual design and public approvals. This included extensive community and stakeholder engagement and technical review through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), which governs land use and zoning changes in New York City. The highly contentious public review process received widespread media attention and concluded in November 2022 with City Council approval. It is the largest rezoning in the history of Queens.
Residences at W New York Downtown
The Residences at W New York Downtown is located in lower Manhattan. The at-grade public plaza creates an urban space with a food kiosk surrounded by a large raised wood deck with table, chairs, and built-in custom stainless steel benches and bar seating along the perimeter. A series of interplaying IPE wood and pre-cast concrete benches creates seating and co...
Skyline Park
After an extensive public dialogue on its original design and performance, the City of Denver decided on a redesign of Skyline Park, downtown Denver’s only public open spaces. The three-block-long, three-acre, linear park is at the center of downtown Denver and is bisected by the 16th Street Mall, a lively pedestrian space that connects many of Denver’s attrac...
Gate City Osaki
“I do sculpture as it relates to my designs, and as the sculpture emerges from the designs it becomes collaborative. This is gratifying because the sculpture is very much in keeping with the overall landscaping concept. It is not an afterthought,” writes Tom Balsley. Here we see the full integration of his sculptural expression in the overall landscape design ...
Westshore Park
Complementing the Inner Harbor’s world-famous promenade, Westshore Park has come to be known as the city’s living room on the harbor. The park is strategically located on the innermost shore of the harbor and sandwiched between the new Baltimore Visitor Center and the Maryland Science Center. Having rediscovered its maritime heritage and opened it to the world...