1251 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY

Plaza Reconstruction

1251 Avenue of the Americas has a large plaza that wraps around the building on 50^th Street, 49^th Street and Avenue of the Americas.

The plaza consisted of two elevated sections flanking the pool and remaining portion of the north and south plaza was barren.  The existing plaza lacked the intimacy, landscape and seating to service the office workers and holiday visitors.  The unsightly plaza had fallen into disrepair with delaminated pavers and sporadic water infiltration into the concourse below it.

A new design was developed that introduced a connecting walkway from Avenue of the Americas to the north and south of the building.  Trapezoidal planters with three-dimensional profile with diagonal walkways between them were incorporated.  The planters were clad with granite and wider portions with polished granite to introduce discreet seating.  The three-dimensional profile of the planters was accentuated with different vegetation and trees that provide comfortable shade for lunch time users and congregating area for holiday visitors.

Diaz Architect & Associate, P.C. designed the new plaza with an assembly consisting of granite pavers on a mud bed, drainage composite, concrete topping, rigid insulation, a second layer of drainage composite and reinforced liquid waterproofing membrane. This design maximizes drainage capability at two horizontal levels to bi-level drains.  To minimize interruptions to tenants below the plaza, drainage troughs were constructed to funnel water to existing drains. New geometric planters also drain into the trough via drainage inlets and overflow drains. The entire fountain and pool were dismantled and waterproofed with fabric reinforced liquid membrane.  The membrane was covered with drainage composite, insulation and concrete water inlets, Overflow drains, lighting and cables were carefully waterproofed, with special coupling.