Situated at the nexus of local community and global responsibility, the World Hunger Action Center (Mercy Corps) in Battery Park City is an architectural manifesto for awareness, mobilization, and sustainable action. Positioned directly across from the iconic Irish Hunger Memorial at One River Terrace, this LEED Platinum-certified facility transcends traditional institutional design to serve as an interactive "field station" dedicated to combating global hunger.

A Field Station Aesthetic
The interior design embraces a raw, didactic aesthetic that reinforces its mandate as a center for active engagement rather than passive observation. By exposing building systems - including open ceiling grids and visible wire management - the space mimics an urgent, readymade field office. This honest expression of materials allows the architecture to function as a tool for education and crisis mobilization.

• Programmatic Flow and Active Spaces
  The layout is organized into five fluid, interconnected zones designed to move visitors from awareness to action:
• Entry & Briefing: Introduces the global context of food insecurity.
• Training: Features interactive media for field-based education.
• Taking Action: Provides hands-on advocacy, visitor feedback and fair trade retail, creating a direct link between the visitor and agricultural communities worldwide.
• Back of House: Supports efficient logistical operations.

Radical Sustainability
As the first institutional interior project in New York City to achieve Platinum LEED certification, the Center is a testament to sustainable design. It integrates high-performance green methodologies, including:

• Radiant heated and cooled floors for energy efficiency.
• Extensive use of recycled, sustainable materials.
• Advanced water-use reduction and blackwater technologies.

The resulting environment is not merely a place of learning, but an immersive experience where form, technology and purpose unite to tackle one of the world's most critical crises.