Portuguese 
Project in Chinatown Will Stand 102 Meters High with About 13 Floors and a Capacity for 1,040 People, Integrating the Plan to Replace Rikers Island and Facing Resistance from Local Residents and Community Organizations in New York During Construction
Standing at 102 meters tall, with approximately 13 floors and a planned capacity for 1,040 people, the new Manhattan Detention Facility is being constructed in Chinatown, New York. The project could become the tallest prison in the world and is part of the city’s plan to replace the Rikers Island jail complex.
Tallest Prison in the World is Part of the Plan to Replace Rikers Island
The facility occupies the site of the former Manhattan Detention Complex, known as “The Tombs,” which was demolished in 2024.
-
Carpenter Finds Nugget During Mill Construction in 1848, Sparks Gold Rush and Transforms California into a Center of Dispute That Would Change the United States
-
Brazil Hides a “Venice of the Amazon” Where Cars and Motorbikes Have Been Banned Since 2002, Streets Are Raised Walkways on Stilts, and Residents Rely on Bicycles for Everything, Creating a Unique Routine in Pará with Bike Taxis, Cycling Police, and Even ‘Bike Ambulances’ for Emergencies
-
California Recycles Discarded Christmas Trees into Underwater Habitats for Aquatic Life
-
BR-153 Expansion Uncovers Archaeological Sites in Paraná, Featuring Artifacts Over 160 Years Old and Rock Carvings, While Scientists Explore Connections to Historic Routes
The new structure will be nearly the same height as the nearby New York County Courthouse.
In 2019, New York announced the closure of Rikers Island and introduced the District Jail Program.
The plan aims to distribute the incarcerated population among four smaller new units located in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, and Queens.
The architecture firm HOK is leading the designs for the units in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Due to the anticipated vertical dimensions for Manhattan, the building has earned the nickname “jailscraper,” a term combining jail and skyscraper.
Cells Will Be on Upper Floors and the Facade Will Feature an Observation Area
The project images show the construction split into two large volumes. A pedestrian passage will cross the base of the building, connecting spaces located around the facility.
The facade will feature a reddish mesh and undulating panels. At its center, a double facade structure will function as an observation area for those in custody and will also provide recreational spaces for inmates.
The cells will be installed on the upper floors. The ground floor is expected to include a public lobby, community and commercial areas, and an exclusive entrance for staff.
The basement will have parking for employees of the Department of Corrections and the New York City Police Department. The facility is expected to provide a total of 1,040 spaces for individuals in custody.
The project includes landscaping, visitor areas, and preservation of artworks
The surroundings of the future world’s tallest prison will also feature landscaped areas and seating spaces, both next to the building and along the public street.
Visitors will have access to a designated area equipped with lockers and accessible restrooms. Public artworks from the former The Tombs complex will be preserved in the new design.
Among these are aluminum wire sculptures by artist Kit-Yin Snyder and stone bas-reliefs by Richard Hass.
Construction has begun, but the prison faces local opposition
Work is underway, including public utility infrastructure interventions and preliminary excavations. The completion of the Manhattan Detention Facility is scheduled for 2032.
The project also faces resistance from residents and community organizations. Local leaders sent a letter to Mayor Zohran Mamdani pointing out potential structural weaknesses in the ground and requesting a reevaluation of the chosen construction site.
This report was prepared based on information from the New York City Department of Design and Construction and HOK, with preserved data, numbers, and information from the consulted materials.
