Illustration of of the BMT from north and south vantage points, via the NYC Economic Development Corp. Plans to construct a glass addition to the top of the Battery Maritime Building moved a little closer to fruition this week with the approval of Community Board 1. The New York Post reports that the Board was a little concerned about the scale of the glass addition that will be added to the century-old structure, but......

The American Institute of Architects is looking to supplant the idea of replacing the Gowanus Expressway with a tunnel, and instead proposes a suspended highway and formation of a Gowanus Greenway. In 2006, the Dept. of Transportation gave a green light to a $12.8 billion proposal to build a 3.5 mile, seven lane tunnel underneath the Brooklyn Waterfront and then destroying the elevated highway. The plan for a Gowanus Tunnel appears to be in perpetual......

This week, reports the Downtown Express, the Landmarks Preservation Commission recommended that architects incorporate elements of the Battery Maritime Building's original architecture into a proposed plan to renovate and expand the ferry terminal. The Dermot Company seeks to develop a glass boutique hotel (complete with roof lounge) and specialty foods marketplace above the Beaux Arts ferry terminal. The changes at the Battery Maritime Building gives us an inside look at the politics of historic preservation,......

This morning, the NY Times takes a look at the Mayor's $7.5 billion affordable housing plan four years since he announced it and one year since he expanded it to 165,000 units of low- to moderate-cost housing. About one third of the projected units, or 55,000, have been financed to date, and 41,366 have been completed. But the 10-year plan may not succeed in producing a net increase in affordable housing. The problem is......

The results are in for the 2007 Design Awards from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) New York Chapter. The jury, composed of notable architects and designers from around the world, reunited for a public symposium and discussion panel last night at the Center for Architecture. The judging criteria were defined as "Quality of design; resolution of the program or idea; and innovation, thoughtfulness, and technique." The following list includes only the highest award......

Earlier this week, the American Institute of Architects announced findings of a public poll of America's favorite architecture, and the Empire State Building was tops. Here's the top 10, with the designers:1. Empire State Building - Shreve, Lamb & Harmon 2. The White House - James Hoban 3. Washington National Cathedral - George Bodley and Henry Vaughan, FAIA 4. Jefferson Memorial - John Russell Pope, FAIA 5. Golden Gate Bridge – Irving F. Morrow......

In its 14th year, Canstruction, hailed as the most unique food drive in the world, challenges 42 top New York City architecture and design firms to turn donated cans into creations. On display through Wednesday, November 22nd at The New York Design Center (200 Lexington Avenue at 32nd), cans are meticulously stacked and color coordinated into creative designs. Where else can you pretend to play a Canned Piano, courtesy of ads Engineers? Take Cansportation......

The Department of Tranportation revealed prototypes of the public toilets that are part of the $1 billion street furniture deal the city struck with outdoor company Cemusa last fall. While the papers are detailing the minutiae of doing your business in a this toilet (pay 25 cents for 15 minutes in the stainless steel and frosted glass water closet; door will open after 15 minutes), Gothamist wondered how this preview worked if you couldn't......

Aug 28: Blues, Barbecue and Fireworks BBQ NYC, which is on Saturday, is already sold out, but you can still get your ribs on at the Sixth Annual Blues, Barbecue and Fireworks on Sunday. This year's participants include Daisy May’s BBQ U.S.A., plus relative newcomers Dinosaur Bar B Que, RIB, Smoked Barbecue, and Spanky’s BBQ. Gothamist on last year's event. August 30: Wine Tasting at Partage Free. Wine. Need we say more, really? Join one......

Freedom Tower's redesign is apparently something the NYPD can okay. The NYPD's counterterrorism head told the City Council, "We have positioned ourselves exactly where we should be to ensure that the Freedom Tower is the beautiful, elegant, secure, safe, robustly designed project that we all want it to be." Somehow, Gothamist doubts that it'll be a beautiful and elegant building that *we* all want it to be, but after reading yesterday's NY Times story about......

Red is definitely one of Gothamists' favorite colors - especially in wine. Just combine some top-notch red vino with some top-grade red meat and we're ready to kick up our heels at a bonafide Bordeaux and bovine ball. So, seeing the world through "red-colored glasses," we're sorely tempted to fork over a cool Benjamin to attend the annual “Big Red” culinary spectacular on October 25th at Upper East Side hot spot Guastavino's, hosted by St.......