journal square urby
completed
november 2024
responsibilities
architecture & interior design
programme
25 floors, 340 apartments
location
journal square, us
completed
november 2024
responsibilities
architecture & interior design
programme
25 floors, 340 apartments
location
journal square, us
architectural transition between high and low rise
The architecture forms a transition between the newly developed high-rise around Journal Square and the existing low-rise residential neighborhoods. The tower itself consists of two interlacing towers and a lower base, all with their own distinctive facades. The tallest tower has a vertical accent in its bronze finished facade, making it appear rather monolithic amidst the generic neighbor towers. The architectural finishing and detailing of the red copper anodized lower tower are linked to the pocket neighborhood located east of the building, while the 9-story brickwork base is part of the street wall along Pavonia avenue.
The massing of the top floors creates extensive communal areas in the form of a kitchen and garden room that extends onto a landscaped deck with pool. The smart massing of interlacing towers is simply achieved by combining a typical rather squarish ‘tower floorplan’ with a ‘center corridor’ plan. This also helps to create a wider range of apartment configurations, all with their own sizes and orientation while maintaining the core qualities of an Urby apartment: smart spacious, filled with daylight and hyper functional.
community at every level
Urby fosters connection from the ground floor to the rooftop. Set back from the street corner, the tower opens onto a welcoming plaza animated by BRBQ, a lively café and restaurant that invites the public to gather and socialize. This sense of openness extends upward: a garden room on the 25th floor, a shared kitchen, and a landscaped rooftop with pool create a hub for residents.
the garden room
A garden room and communal kitchen, both filled with greenery on the 25th top floor is a communal retreat designed exclusively for Urby residents. Just below the tower’s crown, a serene escape rises above the city streets. The interior space has a very grounded and natural atmosphere with large, deeply recessed wooden window sills draw the eye outward, framing views toward Manhattan.
rooftop pool & garden
The interior spaces extend onto a vibrant green roof deck and pool, designed by landscape architect Bas Smets. Here, residents can relax among diverse seating configurations, a pergola, and an outdoor kitchen with barbecue stations, all surrounded by planters overflowing with wild grasses, flowers, and small trees. A stepped terrace leads to the pool, offering the perfect spot to swim, soak up the sun, or simply unwind while taking in sweeping views of New York and beyond.
“We designed a building that invites connection, between residents, the neighborhood, and the city, through a public café, an entrance square, and layered shared spaces that feel alive with community"
felipe pantone’s 25-story masterpiece transforms the jersey city skyline
The side wall of the 25-story building comes alive with 'Optichromie', a monumental 1300 sqm mural by Felipe Pantone, curated by Peter Ernst Coolen - Street Art Today. The vibrant composition of geometric patterns, gradients, and bold colors, creates a striking contrast with the surrounding cityscape, leaving a mark on the skyline and Urby’s commitment to integrating art. In just 25 days, Felipe Pantone and his team conquered a 25-story skyscraper to create his largest mural to date. Spanning a massive 1400 sqm, the Jersey City project was a feat of endurance and artistry.
designed for living
The apartments carry Urby’s signature design philosophy. Smart and efficient layouts create homes that feel larger than their footprint. The design is thoughtfully composed to maximize light and optimize space, while creating diverse apartment configurations that suit various needs.
facts & figures
total area 24.150 sqm
total apartments 340
size art mural 1400 sqm
amenities public café, gym, garden room, communal kitchen, roofdeck with pool
concrete
responsibilities architecture & interior design
team erikjan vermeulen, tobias koch, juliana do prado mul, daisy koppendraaier, andreas rechsteiner, vivianne medeiros, cristina palicari, zuzanna kurzawa
partners & collaborators
client urby, us
executive architect hlw, us
landscape architect roof deck bas smets, be
executive landscape architect melillo + bauer, us
artist mural felipe pantone, es
artist curator peter ernst coolen - street art today, nl
contractor ajd construction, us
photographers robert tsai & mike van tassell
press
"felipe pantone’s ‘optichromie' for jersey city marks his largest gradient mural to date" - designboom
