Architectural Narrative

The Exchange will be a first-of-its-kind model for developing and implementing solutions to the global climate crisis in New York and around the world. The Exchange is a global hub that leverages the collective power of education, research, workforce development, policy development, and public programming to advance climate action at the local, national, and global level.

Designed by Skid­more, Owings & Mer­rill, The Exchange’s 400,000-square-foot cam­pus will include class­rooms, lab­o­ra­to­ries, research labs, pub­lic exhi­bi­tion space, stu­dent and fac­ul­ty hous­ing, uni­ver­si­ty hotel rooms, and audi­to­ri­um spaces, serv­ing as an inspir­ing exam­ple of sus­tain­able and resilient design. The cam­pus will cre­ate 2,200 100% union con­struc­tion jobs.
The cam­pus will include two new­ly con­struct­ed class­room and research build­ings on three acres of the Island’s east­ern devel­op­ment zone, as well as the restora­tion of over 170,000 square feet of space with­in his­toric build­ings, includ­ing Liggett Hall and the Fort Jay The­ater, as well as 4.5 acres of new open space in its Phase 1 plan, adding to the Island’s exist­ing 120 acres of open space across the His­toric Dis­trict and South Island Park.

Visual Narrative

Bloom’s images, sketches, and mood images examine a building shaped by its architecture, mission, and unique island setting. With so many narratives embedded in its design, this visual essay focuses on a singular theme — its dynamic relationship to both water and city.

Nestled within a natural island landscape, the building’s organic forms stand in sharp contrast to the rigid geometry of Lower Manhattan’s skyline. Water serves as both a physical boundary and a unifying element, reinforcing the site’s unique condition and the fact that it is accessible only by ferry. This interplay between isolation and connection links the images in the series together, shifting the focus beyond program to a deeper exploration of place and this unique urban/non-urban setting. Together, these images highlight the evolving dialogue between nature and the built environment, while exploring both the optimism and urgency of a space dedicated to climate action in New York City.