Nature Above Our Heads in Queens

This 16,000-square-foot green rooftop atop the CityLights residential tower serves over 500 tenants, aiming to reconnect its residents and guests with nature. In partnership with Jattuso Architecture, the two design teams set out to blur the lines between people, play and plants on this restorative rooftop. Planted areas - with native flowering and herbaceous plants - are carefully arranged to create a natural flow between seating zones, children’s play areas, and recreational spaces like tennis and bocce courts. A surprising and breathtaking oasis for those accustomed to the concrete jungle.

This project isn’t just pretty; it’s purposeful. Financed by one of the largest DEP grants ever awarded for stormwater management, it tackles ecological challenges head on. Existing pavers were repurposed and rearranged to allow growth between and water retention below, while terrace railings were replaced by greenscreens, making the rooftop as functional as it is beautiful. And the wildlife agrees: local and migratory birds, bees, and butterflies all stop by for a visit.

The Extremis Hopper and Anker tables are a durable and sustainable complement to the purpose of this project, offering a place for residents to sit down together in nature. “We chose the Hopper and Anker tables because of their strong, simple lines and materials, and the comfort and flexibility provided by their shades,” says Joe Jattuso of Jattuso Architecture. The clean lines and natural wood of the tables blend nicely with the maturing landscape, allowing the colorful native plants to steal the show. 

Extremis is proud to be within the scope of such a mission that comes full circle back to our own philosophy of creating sustainable and timeless designs that bring people together through generations while having as little ecological impact as possible.