Marvel has redesigned the Battery Maritime Building (BMB), a once-deteriorating 1909 NYC waterfront landmark, creating a vibrant new icon on the NYC waterfront. The BMB now has a boutique hotel, event spaces, a membership club, and restored ferry access.
Marvel's design received approvals from various NYC agencies and secured historic tax credits. The project revitalizes Lower Manhattan's waterfront and helps bring the waterfront into alignment with the city's goals for a vibrant mixed-use community. Key aspects include restored historic features, contextual modernization, and a rooftop addition.
The project's focal points included a ground floor entry for MARSEC-1 ferry operations, a multi-purpose 9,000 sq ft Great Hall, and a boutique hotel with a rooftop bar & restaurant.
Historic elements such as waterfront side trellises and turrets were restored. A grand staircase was added, paying homage to the building's rich history while providing functionality for its contemporary use.
A striking feature of the restoration is the modern glass rooftop addition, complementing the robust historic architecture and providing views of Upper Hudson Bay. Innovative strategies and creative technical detailing were employed to meet safety codes and improve flood resilience.
The second-floor Great Hall, previously in disrepair, was meticulously restored using existing millwork and plaster fragments as templates. A showpiece is its 130-foot-long by 16-foot-wide glass laylight that diffuses natural light into the core of the building.
On the rooftop, the original cupolas and pergola, lost in the 1930s, were recreated. Behind them, a contemporary fifth-floor glass addition was added, reflecting the sky and visually silhouetting the reconstructed historic elements.
BMB’s rich historic character and modern systems have made it a popular destination for events, while its hotel and club have created a viable new economic engine on the waterfront.
