PENN 2

As part of the complete redevelopment of THE PENN DISTRICT, MdeAS reimagines PENN 2 as the future of the workplace. Combined with a robust amenity offering across a connected campus and located directly above Penn Station, the 1.75 million square foot restoration and expansion will breathe new life into the gateway of Seventh Avenue atop the busiest transportation hub in North America.

With an iconic new design, PENN 2 becomes a destination that reestablishes the epicenter of Manhattan, creates a modern workplace, and reinvigorates a monumental public space.

Address 2 Pennsylvania Plaza (also 2 Penn Plaza)

City New York, NY

Year 2024

Size 1.75 million sq ft

Client Vornado Realty Trust

Design Partners Foster & Partners, A + I, Future Green, MNLA

Awards

WORLD ARCHITECTURE NEWS | WAN Awards, Future Project - Commercial, Gold Winner, 2023
AIA NEW YORK STATE | Design Awards, Unbuilt Projects, Merit Winner, 2023
BETTER FUTURE | New York Design Awards, Architecture - Proposed, Gold Winner, 2023
INTERNATIONAL AWARDS ASSOCIATE | MUSE Design Awards, Architectural Design - Rebirth Project, Gold Winner, 2023
INTERIOR DESIGN | NYCxDesign Awards, On the Boards, Finalist, 2023
BETTER FUTURE | WILD Design Awards, Architecture - Proposed, Silver Winner, 2023

PENN 2: Reborn

The original Pennsylvania Station, designed by McKim, Mead & White, symbolized the lost beauty of rail travel and public space in the United States following its demolition in 1963. The office building that replaced it lacked a connection to the city, didn’t accommodate the public, and failed to provide for its tenants. Vornado Realty Trust envisioned a new building on the site that embodied the most progressive ideals in the workplace typology today. After many studies, it was determined that preserving the existing building could create the best environment while reducing carbon emissions and costs.

The new Seventh Avenue frontage will feature an iconic raised addition perched nearly 50 feet above the ground and supported by robust slanting columns that rest upon the original station’s foundations. The underside of “the bustle” will be clad with LED-backed perforated metal panels, creating an immersive light installation that provides a sense of place and civic monumentality to the new plaza below. The addition of the bustle will bring the face of the building to the street wall along 7th Avenue, contextualizing PENN 2 with its historic neighbors. The office space within will boast two double-height, column-free plates spanning 430 feet long by 75 feet wide by 25 feet high, offering rare and invaluable workspace in New York City. The top of the podium will deliver 20,000 square feet of outdoor space and a pavilion to support community programs.

The Modern Workplace

As a result of new workplace flexibility, our work lives have started to drift down from the top floors of our buildings, into the lower levels, and spill out onto the sidewalks - making for better, more vibrant and energized cities. True to Vornado Realty Trust’s vision, the new PENN 2 will unify the district to the city, re-establish the site as a monumental public space, and provide world-class offices and amenities to its customers. This model is the unlock for modern developers looking to generate success and make better cities, neighborhoods, workplaces, and experiences. This is what will bring our cities back to life.

The lobby will be relocated to the northeast corner to clarify circulation and mitigate conflict with public activities. Inside, a public café and balcony will be perched within the triple height volume, along with a private 2nd floor tenant lounge and terrace. Additional amenities will include a 280-person town hall and pre-function space, as well as 75,000 square feet of new outdoor space, featuring recessed terraces at every other floor and a 17,000 square foot roof park supported by a multi-functional roof pavilion.

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Curtainwall Transformation

At the existing 28-story tower, the original structure will be repurposed to support a new triple-glazed curtain wall. The thermal insulation gained by the new curtain wall design allows for MEP systems to downsize, resulting in the removal of the existing induction units and high-pressure riser in favor of a low-profile fan coil unit.

As a result, the vision glass on a typical floor increases by 43% while reducing thermal transmission by 32%, significantly improving tenant comfort and experience on every floor and increasing operational efficiency by 28%.

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