Futuristic NYC Skyscraper Wins Award for Ecological Design

The Living Refuge concept aims to be a vertical sanctuary for endangered pollinators in Manhattan.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 10:53am

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A bold, abstract painting in muted earth tones depicting a complex, interconnected system of geometric shapes, botanical spirals, and undulating waveforms, conceptually representing the symbiotic relationships and scientific principles behind a futuristic skyscraper designed as a vertical sanctuary for pollinators.An innovative skyscraper design aims to transform dense urban environments into protected habitats that support endangered pollinators and promote ecological restoration.Manhattan Today

A visionary skyscraper design called The Living Refuge has won first place in the annual Skyscraper Competition organized by architecture journal eVolo. The proposed Manhattan tower is envisioned as a vertical ecological infrastructure that would provide habitat and support for endangered pollinator species through an innovative 3D-printed "ecological facade" and interior nesting spaces.

Why it matters

The Living Refuge project highlights how future skyscrapers could play an active role in urban ecological restoration, addressing the critical issue of pollinator decline in dense cities like New York. By creating a protected vertical sanctuary for plants, microorganisms, and pollinators, the skyscraper aims to become a "regenerative ecological engine" for Manhattan.

The details

The Living Refuge skyscraper features a 3D-printed facade designed to form a "vertical ecological landscape." The complex geometry of the facade creates microclimates that can support the colonization of vegetation like mosses, lichens, and fungi. As the facade greenery expands, it provides landing, foraging, and nesting habitats for pollinators, which can move freely between the exterior and interior cavities designed specifically for their use. These internal spaces replicate natural hollow stump nests suitable for pollinator larvae development, insulated from ground-level chemical exposure and habitat fragmentation.

  • The annual Skyscraper Competition organized by eVolo received 149 project submissions for its most recent edition in 2026.

The players

Changsi Wang

The designer from the United States who won first prize for the "The Living Refuge" skyscraper concept.

eVolo

The architecture and design journal that has organized the annual Skyscraper Competition since 2006, recognizing "visionary ideas" that challenge the way we understand vertical architecture.

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The takeaway

The Living Refuge skyscraper concept represents a bold vision for how future high-rise architecture can actively support urban ecology and biodiversity, rather than simply serving as symbols of density. By creating a protected vertical sanctuary for endangered pollinators, the project aims to become a "regenerative ecological engine" for Manhattan, pointing the way towards more symbiotic relationships between cities and nature.