Tracing the city’s built history, one finds that its earliest structures stood under the long shadow of Europe. The grandeur of Beaux-Arts, the bold geometry of Art Deco, the disciplined clarity of the International Style, and later, the raw concrete of Brutalism—New York once seemed like an open exhibition of global architecture. Yet within these acts of borrowing and adaptation, the city gradually began to discover its own texture, its own pace.

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The streets of New York have always witnessed cycles of boom and bust — from the gilded heights of Wall Street’s early prosperity to the shadow cast by the Great Depression in the 1930s. More recently, the city has endured profound challenges such as the 9/11 attacks, the subprime mortgage crisis, and the global COVID-19 pandemic. Through these trials, the city’s architecture has continually reflected and absorbed the resilience and spirit of its people. History tells us that the city has continually rebuilt itself—from rising anew after 9/11 to transforming historic neighborhoods like the Meatpacking District into vibrant urban spaces such as the High Line and Hudson Yards developments. While some hotels have been repurposed, others have served as temporary shelters in more recent times. These changes reflect New York’s resilience and its ability to adapt, even as it continues to confront social challenges.

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Today, many public projects follow the design-build model—structures driven by cost efficiency, clarity of function, and strict adherence to schedule. This shift toward design-build gained momentum partly due to high-profile experiences like the World Trade Center Oculus project, where costs ballooned and completion dates were repeatedly delayed. Such challenges highlighted the need for more integrated delivery methods that better control budgets and timelines. The benefits of design-build are evident: essential civic facilities delivered on time and on budget, serving the needs of the public without delay.

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Yet meeting the complex requirements of public design inevitably involves many “watchful eyes.” Client agencies, end users, contractors, regulatory bodies—each fulfills its role, while the architecture is adjusted, coordinated, and refined through a democratic process. It is a system that ensures accountability and reliability. But in that same process, the distinct character of a design can fade away, worn down by layers of negotiation.

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Public buildings endure. They remain part of the urban fabric for decades, sometimes a century or more. This longevity demands more than functional adequacy; it calls for an architectural vision that honors the region’s history, engages with its cultural context, and speaks to the city’s future. A building is not merely a structure—it is a cultural record, a vessel for the spirit of its time and place.

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While design-build offers clear benefits—cost control, functional clarity, and timely delivery—it often comes at the expense of the architect’s unique vision. The many layers of public scrutiny and coordination, necessary as they are, can dilute the distinct character that gives a building its soul. It is a real loss when architecture becomes uniform and cautious, losing the very qualities that make it memorable and meaningful.

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As a city that stands at the center of the world and transforms at breakneck speed, New York demands more than efficiency; it demands authenticity. To be a New York architect is to commit oneself to the ongoing search for design that truly belongs here—design that responds to this city’s layered history, vibrant culture, and relentless energy.

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This is my pledge: to continually pursue and express what it means to be authentically New York in every project I undertake, even amidst the challenges of modern public architecture. Because only then can a building transcend being a mere structure and become a lasting legacy woven into the fabric of this extraordinary city.

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