The Howard Hughes Corporation ( NYSE: HHC) and Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten celebrated the opening yesterday of the Tin Building by Jean-Georges—a 53,000-square-foot culinary marketplace at Pier 17 at the Seaport on the site of the former Fulton Fish Market—which features an extensive offering of international food experiences at an iconic New York City waterfront location.
The opening of the reconstructed Tin Building at its historic Seaport location marks a major milestone in the revitalization of the Lower Manhattan neighborhood and creates a destination unlike any other in the city. The expansive new marketplace—with every product and menu item personally curated by acclaimed chef Jean-Georges—reinforces the Seaport’s reputation as New York City’s new culinary epicenter. With two levels offering over 20 new restaurants, bars, grocery markets, retail, and private dining experiences all under one roof, the highly anticipated new Tin Building is the largest culinary experience to open in Lower Manhattan in recent years, bringing over 700 new jobs to the community and driving significant economic benefit to the area.
The Tin Building by Jean-Georges is the first project completed by The Howard Hughes Corporation and Jean-Georges since HHC acquired a minority stake in the celebrated global restauranteur’s company earlier this year.
“The market at the Seaport was one of the first places I visited when I first came to New York City in 1985, and it has continued to be a consistent part of my culinary inspiration ever since,” said Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. “It has been a great privilege to have this opportunity to bring back the Tin Building and reinvent such an iconic New York staple in a new and authentic way—honoring and inspired by the Seaport’s rich history and continuing the legacy of providing a one-of-a-kind experience that pays tribute to the global influences found in New York City.”
Culinary Experience
The Tin Building incorporates a wide range of culinary experiences into an authentic New York environment and includes aspects of favorite dining and retail experiences from around the world including a French brasserie, a seafood restaurant, an Asian speakeasy, a breakfast counter, several vegetarian options, a bakery, a coffee shop, and much more. The unique offerings are anchored by an expansive central marketplace at the building’s core featuring daily rotations of locally and sustainably sourced meats, seafood, cheeses, produce and ready-to-eat items. The Tin Building’s specialty food program offers a select, premium variety of Jean-Georges branded items such as sauces, oils, and marinades as well as candy, chocolate, and gifts—each hand-picked by Chef Jean-Georges.
Reconstruction and Resiliency
Before the reconstruction of the Tin Building began—a process which involved the meticulous cataloging, storage, repair, and refurbishment of roughly 300 items from the original building for historical reference and reuse—The Howard Hughes Corporation elected to undertake the extensive process of rebuilding the pier on which the Tin Building sits, including the demolition and reconstruction of the pier structures using new concrete and steel piles beneath the water. Once the pier was fully rebuilt, HHC elevated the building structure six feet to its current height of one foot above the FEMA 100-year floodplain to ensure long-term coastal resiliency. Over the past ten years HHC has spent $789 million on the development of Pier 17, the Tin Building, and the historic Seaport neighborhood, including rebuilding the piers and infrastructure along the waterfront, helping to drive the development of a more resilient Seaport community.
Design
The reconstructed Tin Building reflects and pays homage to the Seaport’s storied past. After the Tin Building was meticulously disassembled and recreated, Roman and Williams Buildings and Interiors took direction from the 1920s and 1930s to honor the history of the site, creating a beautiful, utilitarian feel within a contemporary context. The space is punctuated by restaurants and retail, each with their own distinct identity and design. The building’s central marketplace, which maintains the original Fish Market as its foundation, welcomes visitors upon entering the building with a feast for the senses. Throughout the building, ribbons of brass, details of turned wood, marble surfaces, and handmade tiles in maritime blues and greens channel Jean-Georges’ nostalgia for the original Tin Building, built in 1907.
“The beauty of designing something like the Tin Building is that it comes alive when it’s in use—the way food comes alive when shared,” said Robin Standefer, principal and co-founder of Roman and Williams. “And we are so excited to see these spectacular spaces and historic walls buzzing with the excitement of their heyday once again.”
The lighting concept throughout the entire Tin Building, designed by acclaimed lighting design firm L’Observatoire International, further reinforces the marketplace’s historical character and invites a cohesive journey through the building. The Tin Building exhibits numerous items and artifacts from the building’s history that were painstakingly preserved during the building’s reconstruction. A gallery wall of black and white photographs by fine art photographer Barbara Mensch captures the unique history, allure, and authentic character of the Seaport’s Lower Manhattan waterfront, reflecting the artist’s decades-long commitment to the neighborhood where she has lived since the early 1980s.
In addition to honoring its past, the new Tin Building is designed for future innovation. A second-floor dining room and reception space also serves as The Tasting Studio—the Tin Building’s broadcast studio for the production of cooking segments and the recording of a daily Tin Building podcast.
“Throughout our development at the Seaport, we have engaged in a collaborative dialogue with our local community to help revitalize Lower Manhattan and ensure a bright future for our Seaport neighborhood that reflects the incredible diversity of New York City,” said Saul Scherl, President of the New York Region for The Howard Hughes Corporation. “The reconstruction of the Tin Building further establishes the Seaport as a community anchor and gathering place. With locally and globally sourced foods, exciting programming, and the addition of new jobs, this revitalization is a testament to the Seaport’s enduring legacy as a thriving hub of opportunity and innovation.”
About Tin Building by Jean-Georges
The Tin Building by Jean-Georges is an exciting new 53,000-square-foot culinary destination located at Pier 17 at the Seaport on the former site of the Fulton Fish Market. Inspired by New York City’s history as a bustling commercial and maritime hub, the Tin Building marketplace has been meticulously reconstructed and transformed into a multi-sensory culinary journey of global food & beverage experiences. In partnership with The Howard Hughes Corporation®, the Tin Building by Jean-Georges features six new full-service restaurant concepts, five fast-casual counters, as well as bars focused on wine, craft cocktails and craft beers—all anchored by a central marketplace featuring a locally sourced, curated selection of seafood, meats, cheese, produce, plus three specialty retail markets. The building features interiors designed by acclaimed design studio Roman and Williams and lighting by L’Observatoire International. For more information guests can visit TinBuilding.com.
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