New York, NY — Manhattan’s historic Pier 94 on the Hudson River waterfront is entering a new chapter as construction progresses on Sunset Pier 94 Studios, which is undergoing a transformation into New York City’s first purpose-built, state-of-the-art film and television production facility. The Sunset Pier 94 Studios transformation is designed by Gensler and represents a major public-private partnership between Vornado Realty Trust, Hudson Pacific Properties, Blackstone, the City of New York, and the NYC Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC).
The redevelopment reclaims a 226,000-square-foot site at the western end of West 52nd Street. When complete in early 2026, this transformation will allow Sunset Pier 94 Studios to include six production stages, control rooms, production suites, talent and support areas, and modern workspaces. The design also includes several public-facing elements: a 1,850-square-foot community amenity space, 25,000 square feet of open space on the pier, improved public restrooms for Hudson River Park, and new safety upgrades for the adjacent waterfront greenway. As a result, the Sunset Pier 94 Studios transformation offers both private and public benefits.
Adaptive Reuse Meets Resilience
One of the project’s biggest challenges was adapting the pier’s historic structure to meet current FEMA floodplain regulations. Gensler’s design raises the facility’s floor level by eight feet, allowing future storm tides to flow beneath the building without compromising the structural integrity of the pier. This is a crucial aspect of the transformation, allowing Sunset Pier 94 Studios to thrive resiliently.
“We stripped the pier shed down to its ribs,” said Stephen Newbold, noting that the raised platform allows the Hudson River to move under the new building during extreme conditions. This approach preserves the pier’s heritage while ensuring long-term resilience.
Complex Circulation Planning
Creating a seamless circulation system—internal and external—was another major undertaking. The design had to integrate:
- Pedestrian and bicycle movement along the Hudson River Greenway
- Vehicular traffic from the West Side Highway
- Cruise ship ramp access
- Production-related movement of trucks, equipment, cast, and crew
“We designed from both the inside-out and the outside-in,” explained John Weidner, emphasizing the challenge of balancing public use with studio requirements during this transformation process at Sunset Pier 94 Studios.
Community Amenities and Local Benefits
The project enhances the surrounding neighborhood through:
- New safety features for cyclists and pedestrians, including traffic lights and speed tables
- An expanded park experience at nearby Pier 96, with half an acre of added community space
- A dedicated amenity area that supports local engagement while ensuring studio security
FEMA-driven resiliency improvements also created space for new parking capacity, an added benefit for operations. “Matching the raised floor level gave us room for essential parking below,” added Leslie Jabs, highlighting another benefit achieved through the transformation of Sunset Pier 94 Studios.
A New Era for New York’s Creative Economy
With construction expected to be completed ahead of bookings in January 2026, Sunset Pier 94 Studios positions New York City to meet growing demand for high-end production space. The transformation of Sunset Pier 94 Studios demonstrates how historic infrastructure can be adapted, modernized, and opened to the public in ways that strengthen both the creative sector and the community.
