Weill Cornell Medical College

On the roof of a Weill Cornell Medical College maintenance building, with access to an adjacent residential building and the ambulatory care center and in collaboration with Polshek Partnership Architects, JHLA designed an upper terrace space that could be used by residents and their families at the York Avenue
Ambulatory Care Building. An existing, larger, terrace space was lost during the process of site clearing
for a new Ambulatory Care facility.

JHLA used the design challenge of the six-foot grade change from one end of the terrace to its far side as a starting point to break down the space into different zones that encourage a variety of uses. The lowest, most open area is contiguous with the remaining portion of useable roof terrace next door. It has been left relatively open, punctuated only by two large trees in cylindrical precast concrete planters. The resulting space can be used for relatively large gatherings, or for young family members to play, supervised by their parents sitting in a shady bosk area nearby created by 10 multi-stem river birch trees planted in stainless steel inserts, irregularly spaced in 2’ deep precast concrete steps. A band of more conventional steps ascends directly to the uppermost level, and ramp provides ADA access.

The other side of the terrace is higher to accommodate the raised ceiling of the loading dock below. This
area is punctuated with short rows of Amelanchier x grandiflora trees in the same large cylindrical precast
concrete planters. Ornamental grasses in linear wood and stainless steel planters complete the creation of more intimate spaces.

Project Team:
Landscape Architecture: JHLA (Judith Heintz, Principal in Charge, Diana Drake, Project Manager)
Project Architect: Polshek Partnership Architects

Photos by dl drake