12 Big Ideas for the New York City of the Future

Faced with a surging population and a need for big new ideas, Crain's recently tasked 12 design and planning firms to conjure up creative ideas for the city.

1 minute read

November 2, 2016, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


As a companion piece to a recent big feature re-examining the legacy of Robert Moses, Crain's New York Business has produced a roundtable discussion, of sorts, about potential big ideas for the big city. The premise of the exercise: "The city has not completed projects on the scale of Robert Moses since his tenure. It's time for New York to think big again."

According to article, with the exercise if especially helpful during the cityss current trend of population growth, which has the city heading toward the 9 million mark.

The article asked "a group of leading architects, designers and real estate experts to offer up some of their visions for the city’s future.

  • Gensler
  • FXFOWLE
  • Curtis + Ginsberg
  • Perkins+Will
  • Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
  • AECOM
  • Dattner
  • Wachtel Missry LLP and Kohn Pedersen Fox
  • Design Trust for Public Space
  • SLCE Architects
  • ODA New York
  • Perkins Eastman

The ideas range in variety from underpass plazas, new subway lines, a suspended tram, and a rezoning. Snazzy renderings are included.

Sunday, October 30, 2016 in Crain's New York Business

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

Blue and white Seattle Link light rail train exiting concrete Downtown Bellevue Tunnel in Bellevue, WA.

Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?

Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.

April 7, 2025 - Todd Litman

Silhouette of man holding on to back of bicycle ridden by woman with Eiffel Tower in background.

Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution

The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.

3 hours ago - Momentum Magazine

Multifamily housing under construction.

Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas

Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.

4 hours ago - San Francisco Chronicle

Western coyote looking at camera in grassy field.

San Diego County Sees a Rise in Urban Coyotes

San Diego County experiences a rise in urban coyotes, as sightings become prevalent throughout its urban neighbourhoods and surrounding areas.

5 hours ago - Fox 5