Behind The Design

What do an airport terminal, the set of a Broadway show, and one of the most revered parks in New York City have in common?They’ve all been shaped by renowned designer David Rockwell — and they all reveal the hidden choices that go into designing a public space.David’s work shows a deep understanding of gathering places, in-between spaces, and transitions. He can shape a lobby, an atrium, or even a staircase to connect people with their surroundings in unseen ways. And there’s no better place to explore this masterful sculpting of public spaces than New York City, where David first designed W New York - Union Square during the late 1990s.For nearly 25 years, this hotel towered over Union Square Park, within the historic Beaux-Arts Guardian Life building. Then, David was invited back to completely reinvent the hotel — the first in a series of transformations being made to W hotels across the world.In this episode, David shares how his love of theater and his knowledge of Union Square’s history helped him to br