5 Minutes With The Manhattan West Team
Manhattan West, Awards for Excellence in Urban Open Space Finalist
Kim Van Holsbeke, AIA, Design Principal, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Who has had the greatest influence on your career and what was the best advice he or she gave you?
Over my years as both an architect and architect in training, I have had the privilege of learning from great educators, peers, and mentors. Yet, one who truly stands out is Professor Elias Zhengeli, whom I met at my architecture school in Brussels. He introduced a new way of thinking about architecture—one that went beyond mere form and function. Instead, he encouraged us to place the human experience at the heart of every design decision. His approach infused each space with emotion, connection, and storytelling, humanizing both the design and its process.
As a ULI NY Awards nominee, what makes you most proud of your project?
Manhattan West is unlike any project I have worked on before. It represents a complex synthesis of planning, architecture, and engineering, and the result is greater than the sum of its parts. Our vision started decades ago, when we saw an opportunity to design a new, transformative neighborhood in New York City. Together with developers Brookfield Properties and landscape architects Field Operations, we transformed an open railyard and parking lot into an expansive public open space with offices, residences, hospitality, and retail—all built above active railroad tracks where minimal buildable land existed. This project proudly plays a key role in the larger revitalization of Midtown West. It knits together Moynihan Train Hall, the Midtown business district, the High Line, and Hudson Yards, all while serving as a community destination itself.
What excites you about the future of New York City?
As an architect, what excites me most about New York is the city’s ability to reflect on its past while always looking forward. Having grown up in Europe, where many cities are anchored in history, I appreciate New York City’s ability to continually reinvent itself. It’s embedded in its DNA. We’ve seen it after 9/11 and, more recently, in the recovery of the pandemic. The ongoing reimagination of public spaces, greenery, transportation and more with initiatives like the Build Public Renewables Act, City of Yes, and Local Law 97, are not only reshaping the physical landscape, but also creating opportunities for sustainable and inclusive growth. As a designer, it’s exciting to work in a city that is always looking ahead: setting bold design precedents, challenging conventional ideas, and tackling the socioeconomic and environmental challenges of today, and tomorrow.