The Generator
Competition Entry
Unbuilt
A Sustainable Vision For A Futuristic Skyline
OVERVIEW
The Generator is a visionary urban waterfront tower development, designed on the site of a former power plant.
Rising 210 feet above ground, the tower was conceived to not only offer striking views of Manhattan and Brooklyn but also to meet and exceed 21st-century energy goals. The project scope included a double-skin façade, hydrological filtration systems, and a prominent helical wind turbine that powered the structure. Set within an industrial cluster, this competition entry reimagined the space as a beacon of sustainable innovation, anticipating future environmental challenges like rising sea levels while honoring the site's industrial past.
APPROACH
We developed a design strategy that focused on the building’s interaction with its waterfront location, optimizing for solar, wind, and hydrological energy.
The office program was suspended 210 feet above the ground, allowing the building to respond to sea level rise while creating space for a public parkland below, which also acted as a stormwater management system. The Generator featured a sophisticated double-skin façade for modulated fresh air, with radiant in-floor and ceiling hydronic systems for efficient heating and cooling. A deep-water cooling system and geothermal energy fields in the park ensured the tower met the highest standards of energy efficiency.
IMPACT
While The Generator was never built, the concept design earned recognition for its forward-thinking approach to climate resilience and renewable energy use.
The project demonstrated how urban developments could push beyond net-zero energy goals, using natural elements like air, sun, and water to power the building. By integrating these sustainable strategies into an iconic architectural form, the project inspired new possibilities for waterfront development and showed how historical industrial sites could be transformed into environmentally conscious landmarks.
