KPF’s renovation of the through-block lobby has been honored in the Environmental Graphics category for its cohesive integration of art, materiality, and spatial experience.
Rooted in the Garment District’s textile legacy and the building’s history as the World Apparel Center, the renovation transforms a once unremarkable corridor into a layered, art-filled amenity space. The design builds a cohesive architectural identity around a 64-foot-long, eight-foot-tall kinetic artwork by Yaacov Agam, restored in collaboration with UAP (Urban Art Projects). The artwork’s geometry, motif, and palette echo across the project’s materials and finishes. A continuous 67-foot terrazzo countertop bar spans the space, managing the grade change between Broadway and Seventh Avenue while supporting the full range of daily activity. KPF’s additive approach preserved the building’s existing travertine, bronze, and stonework, while new materials, including vegan leather and a 100% TerraStrand Chilewich rug, reference the area’s textile legacy.
Now in its eleventh year, the NYCxDESIGN Awards program—presented by Interior Design Magazine—recognizes outstanding design across New York City and the Tri-State area; this year’s honorees were celebrated on May 18, 2026, at Lavan Midtown.
