March 10, 2020
RXR Realty moving forward with plans to restore legendary ocean liner, the SS United StatesRXR Realty, a leading real estate owner, operator, and developer in the New York Tri-State area, in partnership with the SS United States Conservancy, announced today the next step in its plans to restore and redevelop “America’s Flagship,” the iconic ocean liner, SS United States. With its maiden voyage in 1952, the United States became the fastest ocean liner to ever cross the Atlantic, and at 100 feet longer than the RMS Titanic, the largest ever entirely made in America.
As part of RXR’s plan, the vessel will be repurposed as a permanently-moored floating structure anchored by a hotel program and a collection of unique hospitality and cultural spaces in the 600,000 square feet available for development. Those offerings would include a world class museum honoring the ship’s history and exploring mid-century design, art and innovation. This project will be landscape-altering for its home city, creating over 1,000 jobs, generating new direct and indirect economic activity, and activating the waterfront at its destination.
"The SSUS is an iconic piece of American engineering and design and we’re committed to finding a permanent home and restoring this one-of-a-kind luxury ocean liner into a vibrant, mixed-use destination,” said Scott Rechler, Chairman and CEO of RXR Realty."
SS United States Conservancy
In search of a permanent home for the United States, RXR is requesting expressions of interest from a number of major US waterfront cities with the intent of starting a conversation about how this unique project can be a major driver of economic activity through the creation of a new, contemporary centerpiece for their waterfronts. Those cities include Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Miami, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego.RXR has built its reputation on adapting and updating iconic assets for the 21st century tenant; their New York City portfolio alone includes the Helmsley Building, 75 Rockefeller Plaza, the Starrett-Lehigh Building, and the massive Pier 57 on Manhattan’s west side, which will house Google offices, City Winery, and rooftop screenings for the Tribeca Film Festival. In addition, RXR works closely with municipalities on large-scale, transformational projects, including their status as master developer for the City of New Rochelle, their partnership with JetBlue on a new terminal at JFK Airport, and their redevelopment of the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island.
For the United States, RXR has already assembled a best-in-class architectural and engineering team, including Perkins Eastman Architects, HLW, and Gibbs & Cox. The design team has a deep connection with the ship. Gibbs & Cox is the naval architect who originally designed the vessel, while an HLW partner on the team fondly remembers his own SS United States voyage as a six-year-old. The team was selected through a two-part design competition, which began in 2018 with an initial targeted request for expressions of interest to identify high-potential design concepts and teams. A shortlist of teams then completed an exhaustive request for proposals phase, which included detailed programming and design concepts.
“The SS United States has waited a long time for this opportunity," said Susan Gibbs, President of the SS United States Conservancy, which owns and cares for the vessel. "RXR’s outstanding team understands the historic importance and economic potential of this enduring symbol of national pride and innovation. We will continue to work closely with them as they seek to secure a permanent home for America’s Flagship. The Conservancy is committed to delivering an extraordinary museum and visitor experience to complement RXR's dynamic mixed-use program."
At 990 feet long, the SS United States is the equivalent of the Chrysler Building laid on its side. Once the pinnacle of American design, technological innovation and luxury, the SS United States had a top-secret secondary identity as the world’s fastest troop transport ship, designed as part of a Cold War Pentagon program. The ship hosted more than a million passengers during her service career including four US Presidents, numerous celebrities, and legions of tourists, students, diplomats and immigrants. Over the next few months, RXR will evaluate responses to the location RFEI and expects to work collaboratively with preferred locations as design and development of the ship advances. .
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