The recent architecture of the megacity in one definitive volume: this opulent encyclopedia from Monacelli documents every building constructed since the turn of the millennium—a milestone in architectural journalism.
Sandra Hofmeister
Lower Manhattan. 56 Leonard Street, southwest corner of Church Street. Herzog & de Meuron, 2017. View to the east form Hudson Street. Photo: Severin / HWA
Benchmarks for the Megacity
New York has long set global standards in architecture. With New York 2020, Robert A. M. Stern, David Fishman, and Jacob Tilove now set new standards in architectural publishing. Surveying every construction project across the megacity over the past twenty-five years, the book is nothing short of a monumental undertaking. Accordingly, it is no slim volume but a substantial reference work: a true encyclopedia of contemporary architecture in New York. Spanning nearly 1,500 pages and featuring more than 2,000 photographs, the book weighs an impressive 4.7 kilograms and offers a comprehensive portrait of the city’s recent architectural history. Its mission is clear: not a selective or subjective survey, but a complete documentation of building activity across the decades.
Brooklyn. Brooklyn Bridge Park, East River waterfront, from Atlantic Avenue to Jay Street. Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, 2008-21. View to the northeast. Photo source: Alex MacLean
From the Bronx to Staten Island
In recent years, numerous New York projects have been published worldwide, and the roster of star architects who have built in the city is long—from Frank Gehry and Diller Scofidio + Renfro to Bjarke Ingels and Herzog & de Meuron, among many others. Yet the great strength of this volume lies in its completeness. It reaches far beyond the familiar names and iconic projects, examining entire neighborhoods and districts and tracing their development over time.
Unrealized plans—such as Giuliani’s vision for the 2012 Olympic Games—are included alongside urban greening initiatives like PlaNYC in the Bronx. The scope also encompasses renovations, townhouses, and social housing. Chapters are organized geographically, from the Bronx to Staten Island and from the Brooklyn Navy Yard to the Kaufman Arts District in Queens.
The World Trade Center opens the book in a dedicated chapter, marking not only the rebuilding of Ground Zero but also the beginning of a new architectural era after 9/11. Throughout, the authors place projects within their political and social contexts, critically assess planning processes, and provide concise summaries that highlight broader urban trends—from healthcare facilities built on the Upper East Side after the Covid pandemic to the campus buildings of City College in Harlem.
Midtown. One Vanderbilt, between East Forty-second and East Forty-third Streets. Kohn Pedersen Fox, 2020. View to the northeast. Photo source: Lester Ali
An Encyclopedia of Architecture
Immersing oneself in the texts and photographs quickly reveals that New York offers far more compelling architecture than a handful of internationally recognized landmarks. Anyone who suspects that the city’s architectural dynamism has waned in recent decades will be proven wrong.
This volume is the final installment in Robert A. M. Stern’s encyclopedic series on New York architecture, begun forty years ago by the founding partner of RAMSA. It marks the end of an extraordinary publishing project—though the city’s evolution continues unabated. Since 2020 alone, numerous developments have reshaped the urban fabric. The New Museum, for example, will open a major extension in March 2026, pairing SANAA’s original building with a new addition by OMA.
Even in one of the world’s densest cities, change remains constant. Anyone seeking a thorough understanding of New York’s architectural transformation over recent decades should not miss this book.
