As the project lead, James Corner Field Operations led the design and construction of the High Line - originally a 1.5-mile-long elevated rail structure on Manhattan’s West Side. Restored to the public as a "green corridor", the park's attraction is provided by its spectacular views of Manhattan and the Hudson River, as well as temporary exhibitions, outdoor installations and events. The distinctive paving, vegetation, furnishings, lighting and social spaces attract visitors from all over the world and provide significant green space and diverse habitats to an otherwise densely built-up city.
The High Line has been recognised as an icon of innovative design since its opening in 2009. As a proof of its success, the project is now one of New York's defining features, welcoming more than 7 million visitors from around the world every year. It has contributed to the development of the surrounding areas by attracting significant investment from investors and creating a new mixed-use district. The ecology of the area has been improved with more than 1500 species of plants, birds and insects. The project has won numerous national and international awards and recognition, and is a reference for the reuse of abandoned infrastructure in other cities around the world.
