Tours Details
Dates: Every Saturday
Time: 10am EST
Duration: 2 hours (~30min walking)
Meeting Point: Battery Park
End Point: Oculus Path Station
Participants limit: 10
New York Financial District and WTC
Art and Architecture Tour
At the southern tip of Manhattan, east and west sides of the island converge in the stunning eruption of skyscrapers, defining New York’s iconic skyline. During our Financial District Tour, we will explore the dynamic contrasts of old and new in this part of the city by examining its distinctive architecture, which speaks to New York’s colonial past as well as showcases some of its boldest contemporary developments. Key sites that will be discuss include Battery Park City, Wall Street, Frances Tavern, Stone Street, Trinity Church, World Trade Center, the 9/11 memorial, Fulton Station, and the revitalization of the East River waterfront.
Important Projects Featured on this Tour
Battery Park City, Various, 1990s
New Amsterdam Plain and Pavilion, UN Studio, 2009
Trinity Church, 1846
Federal Reserve, York & Sawyer, 1924
Equitable Building, Graham & Associates, 1915
Federal Hall, Town & Davis, 1842
60 Wall St., Kevin Roche & John Dinkeloo, 1988
Woolworth Building, Cass Gilbert, 1912
Custom House, Cass Gilbert, 1907
Chase Manhattan, SOM (Gordon Bunshaft), 1960
Marine Midland Building, SOM (Gordon Bunshaft), 1967
Zuccotti Park, Cooper, Robertson & Partners, 2006
9/11 Memorial, Michael Arad and Peter Walker, 2011
9/11 Museum, Snohetta, 2014
WTC1, David Childs (SOM), 2015
WTC2, in-process
WTC3, Richard Rogers, 2018
WTC4, Fumihiko Maki, 2015
WTC5, Kohn Pederson Fox, in-process
WTC7, SOM (David Childs), 2015
Oculus Path Station, Santiago Calatrava, 2015
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Santiago Calatrava, 2020
Perelman Performing Arts Center, REX, 2023
Fulton Station, Grimshaw, 2015
130 Williams St, David Adjaye
8 Spruce Street, Frank Gehry, 2010
Languages
Public tours are in English. Private tours are available in English, Spanish, Italian, French, Russian, Bulgarian and Catalan.
Battery Park
Trinity Church, 1846
Federal Reserve, York & Sawyer, 1924
Oculus Path Station, Santiago Calatrava, 2015
8 Spruce Street, Frank Gehry, 2010
130 Williams St, David Adjaye
Fulton Station, Grimshaw, 2015
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Santiago Calatrava, 2020
WTC1, David Childs (SOM), 2015
Chase Manhattan, SOM (Gordon Bunshaft), 1960
Woolworth Building, Cass Gilbert, 1912
New Amsterdam Plein and Pavilion, UN Studio, 2009
Custom House, Cass Gilbert, 1907
Federal Hall, Town & Davis, 1842
Your PhD Architect Guide
Ivan R. Shumkov, PhD
Dr. Ivan Shumkov is a New York based architect, urban planner, entrepreneur, and professor with more than 20 years of experience across the private, public, and academic sectors. He is the founder of Build World and Build Academy, organizations dedicated to providing professional solutions and education for the built environment.
Ivan combines his experience of practicing and teaching architecture with his passion for discovering and sharing the history and secrets of New York. His tours provoke curiosity, show hidden urban gems, and provide opportunities for experiencing and understanding art and architecture in a unique way. He helps his guests to see and connect the city through the eyes of an architect. They are activated and transformed by these immersive experiences and view the city in a new way.
Ivan is a licensed NYC tour guide. Being fluent in multiple languages, he can conduct tours in English, Spanish, Catalan, Bulgarian, French and Italian.
Choose between our public and private tour options.
Semi-Private Walking Tour
You’ll experience NY with a small group of up to 10 other Art and Architecture professionals, enthusiasts and lovers.
Exclusive Private Tour
You’ll experience NY by yourself or with a group of your family, friends and colleagues. Call or email us to customize your tour experience.
Experience New York with our PhD Architect-led Tours
Our public tours are 2 hours of transformational experiences that connect people with the city on a deeper level. We focus on 8 areas according to the location, neighborhood and their distinct character - weaving culture, history, architecture, art and design in an engaging, story-telling manner to uncover some of the city’s hidden gems and best-kept secrets.
