Randall’s Island Golf Center
Area:
75,000 SF
Client:
Drive Shack Inc.
Cost:
$40M est
The design of Randall’s Island Golf Center is an innovation of an emerging architectural type – a building that combines sports play, entertainment, and interactive technology. The site is within the sprawling expanse of Randall’s Island Park, in the geographic center of New York City. The transformative project aims to contribute to the democratization of the sport of golf and to cultivate a holistic environment that fosters physical well-being, social connectivity, and environmental stewardship.
The site is in a large urban park that occupies a 450-acre island in the East River. The project is the latest addition to the park whose aim in its ongoing redevelopment is to become the premier destination for sports and recreation in New York City. The mandate of the redevelopment is that the buildings and open spaces promote health and equity and provide for environmental sustainability and resiliency. The project also incorporates two-hectares of derelict open space into the surrounding parkland.
Mindful of placing a large building within a verdant park context and cognizant that the center shall become an important addition to the sports and recreation “campus” within the park, the esthetics of the design, including the use of metal cladding materials and vibrant colors, continue our approach to our previous building designs on the island.
The design incorporates innovative, interactive technology within the three-tier driving range and two indoor miniature golf courses. The center seamlessly integrates active and social spaces with the three-story building, including cafes, lounges, and meeting rooms.
By providing the new, dynamic facility, and restoring open land, the design project revitalizes this corner of the park, improving the natural environment, and creating a vibrant destination for park-goers and a “green” hub for the neighboring, densely populated East Harlem community. The building itself offers visitors an unparalleled experience that transcends the boundaries of conventional, sporting venues.
