Over nineteen nights, Max Touhey documented the installation of nineteen modular units atop Rockefeller University, capturing every stage from fabrication in New Jersey to final placement on the FDR Drive at 3 a.m. on a warm summer night. This extraordinary project required coordination with construction schedules, nighttime highway closures, and the tides of the East River to lift massive modules off a moving barge using one of the world’s largest cranes, permanently shading sections of the FDR.
The operation was of immense scale and precision, and Max captured it in real time, balancing the logistics of an active construction site with the aesthetic demands of architectural photography. Designed by the late Rafael Viñoly, the completed expansion provides a unique two-acre addition of research facilities and outdoor space, now seamlessly integrated into the historic campus.
The project also revitalized a section of the East River Esplanade between East 64th and 68th Streets, transforming it into a lush, publicly accessible waterfront park. The esplanade features new landscaping, seating, lighting, and a noise barrier, and is maintained by the university with a $1 million endowment to ensure its upkeep in perpetuity. Open to the public, it has become a popular destination for cyclists, joggers, and sightseers.
