CetraRuddy and Silverstein Properties Unveil Redesigned Avenir Casino

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The Avenir development team at Silverstein Properties, together with the CetraRuddy architecture firm from New York City, has revealed a revised design for the proposed mixed-use casino and entertainment complex situated on Manhattan’s Far West Side. The developers revealed the updated design in May 2025, which replaces the 2023 proposal of two 46-story skyscrapers with a single 785-foot tower. The Avenir project stands at 41st Street and 11th Avenue near the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center as it looks to unite the distinct qualities of Hell’s Kitchen with Hudson Yards.

The redesign reflects community input to develop a space that naturally fits into the urban environment through accessibility features, sustainable elements, and cultural integration. For New Yorkers curious about gaming trends while they wait for developments like The Avenir, online casino sites for New York players will be able to provide a digital avenue to explore gaming culture. These sites feature all you’d find in a brick-and-mortar casino, including slot and table games.

The Avenir features a tapered tower with a scalloped design that extends from a nine-story base and contains a 1,000-room luxury hotel and various dining areas, bars, spa facilities, and casino space. The Avenir breaks away from conventional casino facilities because it focuses on open spaces and abundant natural light through its extensive glass walls. The ground-floor community gallery on 11th Avenue stands out as a major attraction because it extends across a full city block while reaching heights of 45 feet.

The complex will use this space to display local artwork with rotating exhibits while organizing cultural and educational events to create a conversation with its neighboring communities. The tower demonstrates its dedication to sustainability through its green roof. The roof includes an outdoor pool and all-electric systems with eco-friendly materials that reduce its environmental impact. The World Trade Center redevelopment company, Silverstein Properties, predicts that The Avenir will create more than 4,000 construction jobs and 5,500 permanent union positions, which will drive substantial economic expansion in New York.

CetraRuddy’s design philosophy, wrapped in the idea that Architecture Is Home. The Avenir’s mission is to unify Manhattan’s Far West Side. Nancy Ruddy, who founded the firm, described the site as a vital connection between separate neighborhoods while she imagined the complex to become a pedestrian-friendly cultural center that would improve New York’s walkable urban character.

The design includes multiple ground-floor entrances and a porte-cochère that allows free pedestrian and vehicle access while solving congestion problems. The non-gaming facilities, including the hotel and restaurant, remain accessible without having to enter the casino, which also provides space for residents, workers, and visitors who don’t play games.

The Avenir was developed through a partnership between Rush Street Gaming and Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment to compete for one of three downstate casino licenses, while the New York State Gaming Commission plans to announce its decision in 2025. The site has been owned since 1984 and includes features focused on the community, including 100 affordable housing units through New York City’s housing lottery system, enhancing Silverstein’s proposal.

The 1,000-seat performance hall serves different purposes to host both local events and international productions without challenging the existing Broadway theater industry. The company has demonstrated its arts support through free studio space for local artists and public art facilities throughout its properties.

The Avenir competes against two prominent proposals, including Related Companies’, SOM’s Hudson Yards West, and BIG’s Freedom Plaza. The public hearings show a divided community opinion because local artists praise Silverstein’s cultural efforts, but some residents worry about the social effects and traffic problems that a casino might create. The Avenir stands out as a potential force to transform Manhattan’s Far West Side into an energetic, inclusive destination that embodies the city’s energetic character through its combination of innovative design, economic advantages, and community-focused initiatives.

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About the Author: Thurman Hunter