Terminal Warehouse
Commercial, Masterplanning
Transforming a block-sized nineteenth-century industrial Manhattan landmark into a cutting edge, LEED-Platinum rated development attracting bluechip companies and premium hospitality.
CookFox
[Background]
The Terminal Warehouse is a 19th-century industrial landmark in West Chelsea, characterized by its historic timber and masonry construction. Originally a freight and storage facility, the 1.2 million-gross-square-foot structure presented a significant engineering challenge: how to integrate modern, high-performance infrastructure into a building designed before the advent of electricity and modern climate control.
Our engineering enabled the modern architectural vision and executed the largest adaptive reuse project in recent New York City history.
[Process]
Our engineering approach was iterative to achieve the modern architectural vision while preserving the legacy of the historic landmark.
Sustainability & Wellness: We designed all MEP systems to meet LEED Platinum and WELL standards, prioritizing air quality, energy efficiency, and tenant comfort across the building’s 1.2 million RSF.
Infrastructure Threading: We successfully navigated the complexities of routing modern HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems through 25 independent historic structures and a new concrete overbuild each with varying floor-to-floor heights.
Courtyard Integration: We meticulously rerouted MEP services to support the creation of a massive central courtyard—the city’s largest interior park in a commercial setting—which brought essential light and air into the building’s core.
Resilient Design: Given the site’s waterfront proximity, we implemented specialized flood resilience measures for all critical electrical and mechanical equipment, ensuring long-term operational stability.
[Outcome]
The resulting redevelopment stands as a model for high-performance adaptive reuse in New York City:
LEED Platinum Performance: Our design delivers a sustainable, high-efficiency environment that meets the rigorous performance criteria required for modern, environmentally-conscious commercial tenants.
Hospitality & Retail Support: Our plumbing and mechanical designs enable a vibrant new ecosystem within the historic “Tunnel,” including over 100,000 square feet of retail and food-and-beverage opportunities.
Modern Heritage: By balancing 19th-century preservation with cutting-edge MEP engineering, we helped create a resilient, world-class asset that bridges the industrial past of West Chelsea with its future as a tech and creative hub.
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