Plan in the Works for NYC Bus Terminal Redevelopment

U.K’.s Foster + Partners has been appointed to design four new towers rising above NYC’s Times Square as part of a major redevelopment of the world’s busiest bus terminal, Building Design reports. The British practice is working with U.S.-based design firm Epstein on the latest plans to replace the 72-year-old Midtown Bus Terminal in Manhattan for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The site has seen several redevelopment proposals, and the new masterplan calls for the existing building to be replaced by a much larger complex spanning three blocks with a length of more than 800 m. Early graphics released by Fosters show a building extending from the terminal’s current site across 9th and 10th avenues. The images also show four blocks of currently unknown use. Their heights have not been revealed, but the graphics appear to show that the tallest is significantly taller than Renzo Piano’s neighboring 52-story New York Times building. The current bus terminal, which is the main gateway for buses traveling to and from New York, is operating beyond capacity. The new plans aim to expand capacity to accommodate bus growth beyond 2050, including off-street space for storing buses. Epstein and Foster + Partners will work on the project throughout the design phase and an environmental review, the Port Authority said.