Pier 57

Transforming Pier 57 into a dynamic multipurpose ecosystem for events, collaboration and hybrid working environments.

Originally designed by American architect and civil engineer Emil Praeger in the early 1950’s, Pier 57 was the largest dock ever built by the City of New York. It was completed in 1954, built by the New York City Marine and Aviation Department.

The pier served as a shipping terminal for several years before succumbing to the decline in the city’s maritime industry. It served as a parking garage for the city’s buses for three decades and had been vacant since 2003. In 2004 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A long hall with a floor covered in aerial photography. The left wall is covered with artwork of a blue sky. The right wall is a mirror.

Pier 57

Four plush chairs on stage in front of purple bench seating. The ceiling is hung with several dense rows of AV equipment.

With Google as client, the project is as technically ambitious as one would expect, allowing visitors, – both internal and external, to Google to enjoy a seamless user experience across the campus of the Pier. Charcoalblue Experience were tasked to lead the Event and Guest Experience project scope creatively managing the audio-visual design, experiential activations, custom content integrations, specialist lighting, rigging, function and the form of gathering and collaboration spaces.

Charcoalblue Experience developed a creative delivery model that ensured all the stakeholders were aligned to the client’s vison. The project was highly complex with vendors, architects, integrators, designers, and client teams all needing clear and uncomplicated delivery strategies that ensured the project was successful. The Charcoalblue Experience team were instrumental in delivering this landmark project for Google, leveraging their skills across project management, design coordination and client representation to ensure the outcomes of the project were delivered.

The light green Pier 57 building juts out into the water. Seating and a green area are visible on the roof.
Project Details
Client Google
Location New York, NY, USA
Year 2022
Project Consultants Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Architect
Sector
Awards
New York State’s Historic Preservation Award, Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award, Award for Excellence in Historic Building Rehabilitation 2022