New Amsterdam Pavilion by UNStudio in Battery Park

The New Amsterdam Plein and Pavilion, commissioned by the Battery Conservancy, is a gift from the Netherlands to New York in honour of 400 years of friendship. When completed, the Plein and Pavilion is expected to attract over 6 million visitors annually. The Pavilion will provide digital information points acquainting visitors with both the surrounding neighbourhood and New York City, as well as providing information about events in The Netherlands. The Pavilion will also serve as a food and beverage outlet, with seating provided on the surrounding Plein (plein is Dutch for civic plaza or square). Part of Battery Park's Peter Minuit Plaza will be renamed New Amsterdam Plein and together with the Pavilion will provide an attractive gathering place for New Yorkers, commuters, and tourists, as well as serving as a tribute to our common history and shared values.

The Pavilion's completed roof and undulating sidewalls glow with polished white surfaces, which frame the fritted glass enclosures. These four wings radiate from a center oculus, which is punctuated by polished aluminum grill work, facilitating the ventilation of the building. The pavilion will be equipped with an electronic LED facade system that allows for a constantly changing light show at night, “an experience that will carry the animation and drama of the day into the evening,” according to van Berkel.