SHoP Architects
SHoP Architects is a New York–based architecture and design firm known for innovative, context-sensitive projects that blend technology with craftsmanship. Founded in the mid-1990s by a group of partners, the firm works on a wide range of building types, including residential towers, cultural institutions, commercial buildings, and urban master plans. SHoP’s approach often integrates custom digital design and fabrication techniques with traditional materials like brick and metal to create distinctive façades and structural systems. The firm emphasizes collaboration with engineers, developers, and communities to achieve efficient, sustainable designs that respond to their surroundings. SHoP has gained recognition for transforming challenging urban sites with thoughtful massing, material expression, and attention to human experience. Its work contributes to shaping city skylines and streetscapes, particularly in New York and other major cities around the world.
ABOUT THE ARCHITECT
PROJECTS:
New York City, NY - United States
111 57TH ST
ADDRESS:
111 W 57th St, New York, NY 10019
ACCESS:
Restricted: Private Residence
DISCRIPTION:
111 West 57th Street is a residential skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan designed by SHoP Architects. Completed in the early 2020s, it is one of the tallest and most slender towers in the world, rising over 1,400 feet. The building sits above the restored Steinway Hall, combining historic preservation with new construction. Its extremely narrow form gives it a vertical, elegant profile shaped by setbacks as it rises. The façade uses a mix of terracotta, bronze detailing, and glass, creating a textured surface that changes with light. Large windows provide expansive views toward Central Park and the city. The structure relies on advanced engineering to remain stable despite its thin proportions. Overall, the architecture blends modern technology with references to classic New York skyscraper design.
NOTES:
SHoP Architects also designed Brooklyn’s tallest tower, the aptly named Brooklyn Tower. Both towers feature a Art Deco influences in their façade designs.
New York City, NY - United States
THE BROOKLYN TOWER
ADDRESS:
55 Fleet St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
ACCESS:
Restricted: Private Residence
DISCRIPTION:
The Brooklyn Tower, designed by SHoP Architects and completed in 2022, stands as a defining addition to New York City’s skyline at the intersection of Downtown Brooklyn. Rising to 1,066 feet, it is the borough’s tallest structure, blending residential units with retail and public space. Its slender form channels influences from nearby historic buildings, while its faceted crown features a distinctive geometric pattern that catches light differently throughout the day. A mix of luxury condominiums and rental apartments fills its floors, offering expansive views across Manhattan, Manhattan Bridge, and the skyline beyond. The project also incorporates ground-level plazas and streetscape improvements that engage pedestrians. Engineered to meet contemporary sustainability standards, the tower exemplifies a fusion of modern high-rise design with contextual sensitivity to its urban surroundings.
NOTES:
SHoP Architects also designed One of Manhattan’s tallest tower, 111 57th St. Both towers feature a Art Deco influences in their façade designs.
IMAGE CREDITS:
Images: (1-6) WROT (7) Jamie
New York City, NY - United States
BARCLAY’S CENTER
ADDRESS:
620 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217
ACCESS:
Limited to ticketed entry
DISCRIPTION:
Barclays Center, located in Brooklyn, New York, is a distinctive sports and entertainment arena designed by SHoP Architects in collaboration with Ellerbe Becket. Opened in 2012, the building features a striking weathered steel (COR-TEN) façade composed of hundreds of interlocking panels, giving it a rugged, industrial character that reflects the borough’s history. Its signature element is an oculus—a large, elliptical opening—extending over the main entrance, offering a dynamic urban presence. The arena's interior includes flexible seating and high-end amenities to accommodate basketball games, concerts, and events. Integrated with the Atlantic Yards development, it emphasizes connectivity and urban revitalization.
NOTES:
Ona by Rydingsvard is located under the oculus. SHoP also designed a skyscraper behind the arena on Flatbush that was the tallest prefab construction in the US at the time of construction. Entry into the arena is limited to ticketed guests.
