Polshek Partnership (Ennead Architects)
Polshek Partnership, now known as Ennead Architects, is a New York–based architecture firm recognized for its thoughtful and context-driven design approach. The firm built its reputation on creating culturally and scientifically significant buildings that prioritize clarity, function, and public engagement. With a portfolio spanning museums, academic institutions, performing arts centers, and civic buildings, the firm consistently seeks to balance innovation with respect for site and purpose. Its projects often feature bold geometric forms and transparent materials, emphasizing accessibility and openness. Under the leadership of James Polshek, the firm became known for its collaborative ethos and commitment to architecture as a public good. Notable works include the Rose Center for Earth and Space, the Clinton Presidential Library, and numerous university buildings across the U.S. Polshek Partnership’s legacy lies in its ability to blend modern aesthetics with mission-driven design, resulting in architecture that is both visually compelling and deeply responsive to human needs.
ABOUT THE ARCHITECT
PROJECTS:
THE STANDARD, HIGH LINE
New York City, NY - United States
ADDRESS:
848 Washington St, New York, NY 10014
ACCESS:
Many areas of the hotel are only accessible to guests. The best views of the building are from the High Line.
The Standard, High Line, designed by Polshek Partnership (now Ennead Architects), rises above New York City's Meatpacking District as a bold example of contextual yet contemporary architecture. Elevated on slender pilotis, the hotel straddles the High Line, integrating itself physically and visually with the urban park below. Its sleek, rectilinear form is clad in glass and concrete, reflecting the gritty industrial heritage of the neighborhood while offering expansive views of the city and Hudson River. The building’s design balances raw structural expression with refined detailing, creating a sense of both openness and privacy. Its lifted design preserves pedestrian flow beneath and frames dramatic views of the cityscape. The Standard is not just a hotel but an urban landmark, engaging with the public realm through its architecture, street-level activity, and dynamic relationship to the High Line. It exemplifies a modern approach to building in dialogue with history, infrastructure, and evolving urban life.
DESCRIPTION:
This project was at it’s creation in the early days of the High Line and is still to this day considered one of the most impactful architectural works in the district. The dramatic cantilever both plays homage to historic buildings along the train and creates a striking visual that doesn’t get old.
NOTES:
ROSE CENTER FOR EARTH AND SPACE
New York City, NY - United States
ADDRESS:
200 Central Prk W, New York, NY 10024
ACCESS:
This building is included with the cost of admission to the museum. There are however one exhibit spaces location within this wing of the museum that require an additional ticket. See the website for more information.
Adults: $25 | Seniors and Students: $20 | Children: $14
These prices do not include ticketed exhibitions. Prices for NY residents are suggested, pay what you wish.
HOURS:
10am - 5:30pm 7 Days a week
The Rose Center for Earth and Space, designed by Polshek Partnership (now Ennead Architects), is a striking architectural statement that blends scientific wonder with modern design. Located at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, the building features a massive glass cube that encloses a suspended, glowing sphere housing the Hayden Planetarium. This transparent outer shell contrasts with the solid, celestial form inside, symbolizing the relationship between Earth and the cosmos. The structure emphasizes lightness, clarity, and openness, inviting visitors to engage with the vastness of space through both physical experience and visual metaphor. Walkways and bridges within the cube create dynamic spatial relationships, allowing guests to move around and through the spherical theater. At night, the illuminated orb seems to float, enhancing the building’s sense of awe and discovery. The Rose Center is a bold fusion of architecture and astronomy, serving as both an educational hub and urban landmark.
DESCRIPTION:
You can enter the Museum of Natural History through this wing as well as purchase tickets through this entrance. On busy day’s this can be the easiest entrance into the museum. Be sure to visit the Richard Gilder Center as well.
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