Branchline Towers
Residential, Community
The Branchline Tower is conceived as a living tree rooted in Newark’s rich diversity. Its public spaces form the grounding “roots,” anchoring the building to the city’s cultural and social fabric. As it rises, the tower branches outward into flowing terraces, linked pathways, and has a vertical network between the lounge and social spaces that encourages movement, gathering, and community connection. Guided by curving, organic forms, the building expresses resilience, unity, and upward growth embodying Newark’s vibrant spirit within a dynamic, living architecture.
This 15-story high-rise features five distinct apartment layout types. The corner units function as connector apartments that help define the overall form of the building. While the vertical organization remains consistent from floor to floor, each apartment varies slightly due to the building’s organic horizontal geometry, resulting in unique layouts throughout the structure.
Unit Layouts
Studio Layouts
Two Bed x One BR - Corner Room A
One Bed x One BR
Two Bed x Two BR
Two Bed x One BR - Corner Room B
The units are arranged to interlock with one another like puzzle pieces, responding directly to the building’s organic floor plate. Each apartment type is strategically placed to maximize efficiency, light, and circulation while maintaining a cohesive overall form. Corner units anchor the geometry, allowing standard units to fit seamlessly between them and create a balanced, continuous layout across the floor.
Unit Distribution
As an additional program, the rooftop amenity transforms the top of the high-rise into a landscaped retreat, incorporating pools, decking, and lush greenery to create a balanced environment for both recreation and relaxation. Elevated above the hustle and bustle of the city of Newark, the space offers residents unobstructed views of the New York City skyline in the distance.
The first three floors accommodate the public and programmatic spaces of the highrise. As the structure rises, the tower transition into residential use with a variety of apartment layouts. The 9th, 10th, and 11th floors act as bridge levels where the towers connect, leading to the upper residential levels, which incorporate botanical gardens on the top floors. Within each towers lounges are interconnected floors, forming a continuous vertical circulation branch that encourages movement and social interaction. The north tower rises one story higher than the south tower to maximize access to natural sunlight.
Thrid Floor Plan
Eighth Floor Plan
First Floor Plan
Fifteenth Floor Plan
The site design was divided into two sections, with the northern portion developed by me and the remaining portion designed by a partner.
The botanical garden bridge extends over the NJRR to a nearby park, linking the site and building to surrounding nature while seamlessly connecting urban life with convenient access to Newark Penn Station.
The parking area is shared between the two design schemes and is integrated seamlessly within each. Connectivity is maintained through the building’s bridge level, which links the two sections.
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South Elevation
The towers gradually shift two feet per floor toward the central level, then return symmetrically, reinforcing the building’s dynamic form.
East Elevation
These diagrams illustrate the interior organization of the high-rise, highlighting how lounges between floors are vertically connected through staircases and floor apertures. The elevator shafts, stairwells, and trash shoots remain fixed in place, allowing the towers to shift and evolve around a stable structural and circulation core.
Sectional Axonometric
Exploded Axonometric
Project Details
Location
Newark, NJ
Total Square Footage
200,000 SQFT
Programs
***apartments, 2 restaurants, Recreation Center, Convention Center, Cafe, Library, 2 story Gym, 3 Botanical Garden