At our October monthly committee meeting, we continued the Design Presentation Series, during which Ayumi Sugiyama AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Director of Cultural Projects at SHoP Architects, shared with us the design and construction processes of the Barclay’s Center and the American Copper Buildings.

The presentation included remarkable structural details and visualizations of the arena’s iconic exterior, built from 12,000 uniquely-shaped panels in weathered steel that converse with the color of local brownstone blocks. Ayumi also highlighted the interior of the Barclay’s Center, which is a reflection of the cityscape. The site employs custom terrazzo used to merge the tones of a New York City sidewalk with the arena’s accent colors. In light of recent events and #BlackLivesMatter, Ayumi also spoke of the importance of designing public community spaces as a part of all building typologies, including residential and commercial projects.

Ayumi spoke of the American Copper Buildings on the East River, which has the city’s highest skybridge, which boast a structural feat—the city’s highest skybridge which houses a lap pool and shared amenities. She spoke to the challenges of the riverside site, which was flooded during Superstorm Sandy, and elaborated on design decisions that were made to meet resiliency benchmarks including supplying in-house back-up power for every unit. 

We thank Ayumi for her compelling presentation, and also thank our members for engaging in a lively discussion.

You can view the full meeting agenda, and access links to resources and good reads here.