West 215 Step Street is a pedestrian corridor that restores a 200-foot-long passageway in the hilly Inwood neighborhood of upper Manhattan. The street provides an essential cut-through to community amenities, park space, and public transportation on an otherwise long, impermeable block. Recognizing the crucial nature of this access, New York City’s Department of Design and Construction commissioned WXY architecture + urban design to lead a full reconstruction of the deteriorating “step street”—a street comprised entirely of steps. The team emphasized safety and accessibility as guiding principles for the design. Landings were reconfigured to include seating, creating areas for those who may need rest when taking stairs, such as older adults. The design entices movement, with stainless bronze markers that indicate step numbers at intervals, playful and inspirational quotes, stainless steel handrails, LED pedestrian lighting, and a new concrete bike channel that allows cyclists to roll their bikes up and down next to the stairs. West 215 Step Street offers a thoughtful, innovative model for rehabilitating pedestrian infrastructure and overcoming topographic barriers to promote activity and community connection.

Photo courtesy of WXY architecture + urban design ©Albert Vecerka Esto. All rights reserved

Project: West 215 Step Street
Location: New York, NY
Type: Public infrastructure reconstruction
Size: One block (200 FT long x 34 FT wide)
Project Partners:
Design Team: WXY architecture + urban design
Civil engineering: AECOM
Client: NYC Department of Design and Construction