7 Bryant Park

A novel gesture transforms this Midtown Manhattan office
tower into a memorable presence that enriches the public
realm.

Consisting of a lower rectangular podium of nine floors and
a rectangular tower of 21 floors set back above, the building
conforms to the mandated zoning envelope and setbacks
while maximizing floor plates. Within this volume, two
conical incisions—one pointing up, the other down, with
their apexes touching at the setback level—animate the
building as seen from the park. At street level, the form is
further dramatized by a generous circular canopy that
shelters a welcoming public space where pedestrians can
pause to enjoy the prospect of one of the city’s most
treasured landscapes.

The exterior motifs are carried into the lobby, where conoid
panels of carved limestone line the walls, triangles of
marble and granite ornament the floor, and a water feature
and lushly planted greenwall make a vivid connection with
the park beyond.

Pei Cobb Freed & Partners is an international architectural firm based in New York City.

Across six decades of practice, we have produced an exceptionally diverse portfolio of work—in scale, program, purpose, and expression. We are widely recognized for our commitment to craft, our sophisticated sense of form, our attention to shaping the public realm, and our ability to navigate complex projects and sensitive contexts.

DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
2017
Honoring the firm’s “significant contribution” to American architecture
—National Academy

FIRM AWARD
2009
Recognizing “notable achievements in design, community service, education, and service to the profession”
—AIA, New York State chapter

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
1992
For the firm’s “outstanding contribution to the advancement of architecture, artistically as well as to the architectural profession”
—New York Society of Architects

HONOR AWARD
1990
Recognizing “excellence in design and advancement of construction technology”
—Construction Specifications Institute, Metropolitan New York Chapter

CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE AWARD
1985
For “significant contributions to architecture and to the design of urban environments”
—AIA, Illinois Council, and Architectural Record

POSES CREATIVE ARTS AWARD FOR ARCHITECTURE
1981
Recognizing “architectural innovation and excellence”
—Brandeis University

FIRM AWARD
1968
For the firm’s “consistently distinguished design”
—American Institute of Architects