Disney New York City Headquarters

SCAPE designed nine exterior roof terraces, two green roofs, and an urban streetscape for the Robert A. Iger Building in historic Hudson Square, designed by SOM. The project adds nearly an acre of elevated greenspace to a neighborhood defined by its industrial past.

To meet the needs of innovative and flexible outdoor workspaces, the terraces provide essential outdoor space that benefits employees and the ecosystem alike. The building is comprised of two nine-story towers on top of a 10-story podium organized around a series of cascading exterior terraces. The rooftop terraces host a series of flexible spaces for working and relaxing, creating indoor/outdoor work environments and blending the office into its industrial context. In a callback to Hudson Square’s history as a Printing District in the 20th century, the modular terraces and planters were inspired by subdivided typesets found in historic printing presses around the area.

Designed as a living microforest, the planting is intentionally layered and textured, incorporating low-growing grasses and perennials, accent perennials, medium and large-scale shrubs, and larger trees where appropriate to mimic the structure of an urban forest. Lush plantings create an immersive experience within each terrace while also capturing stormwater and exceeding requirements for LEED certification. At the base of the building, a revamped streetscape complements retail amenities along the ground floor.

50% of the building footprint—which spans a full city block—is comprised of landscaped terraces. More than half of the occupiable terraces feature a 95% native plant palette. Additional horticultural species are used to adapt to extreme site conditions and provide visual diversity.


The design responds to varying solar and wind conditions and a changing climate. South, southeast, and west-facing terraces have high sun and wind exposure and feature layered coastal grasses and shrubs. North-facing terraces feature a variety of shrubs, trees, ferns, and grasses that are shade-tolerant and create a sense of enclosure.

Partially sunny thirteenth floor terraces feature a woodland of birches paired with a groundcover of grasses and ferns, creating an immersive and textural plant palette. Drought tolerant and resilient plants will weather tough seasonal conditions and require low maintenance needs from building management.

Above one of New York's densest urban blocks, paths throughout the terraces and nested seating areas frame iconic views of New York City.