The Future of Sunnyside Yards

LERA's proposal Loop ’N’ Link

Sunnyside Yard Back in Focus — Revisiting LERA’s Vision for Building Over the Rails

Sunnyside Yard, one of New York City’s largest untapped development sites, is once again drawing attention. Recent discussions among federal and local officials suggest the long-debated idea of building above the Queens rail yard could be revived as part of efforts to address the city’s housing shortage.

The 180-acre rail yard—used by Amtrak, the Long Island Rail Road, and New Jersey Transit—has long been viewed as a rare opportunity to create up to 12,000 new housing units.

Loop ’N’ Link, a conceptual design developed by daab design with structural engineering by LERA Consulting Structural Engineers envisions a series of looping residential blocks organized around interconnected public spaces, creating a continuous network of parks, streets, and community amenities above the rail yard. The scheme explored decking over the active rail infrastructure to enable a new mixed-use neighborhood that would include housing, open space, schools, and community facilities.

A key challenge of any Sunnyside Yard proposal is the structural complexity of building over active rail lines. LERA’s approach focused on developing efficient, repetitive structural systems capable of spanning large portions of the yard while supporting flexible urban development above. By prioritizing practical structural solutions, the concept demonstrated how engineering can unlock new possibilities for housing and public space in dense urban environments.

As conversations around Sunnyside Yard gain renewed momentum, projects like Loop ’N’ Link illustrate the potential for innovative structural design to help transform complex infrastructure sites into vibrant new neighborhoods.

If realized, Sunnyside Yard would represent one of the most ambitious overbuild projects in New York City—turning infrastructure into an opportunity for growth, connectivity, and community.

PRESS for Loop 'N' Link

https://www.aiany.org/membership/oculus-magazine/article/spring-2021/gaining-urban-space-winner-announced-in-competition-to-design-affordable-housing-at-sunnyside-yard/ https://nyrej.com/lera-named-finalist-in-sunnyside-yards-competition-with-project-partners-daab-design-and-buro-happold

Previous Build Over experience by LERA includes Capitol Crossing in Washington DC, a platform over the active I-395 which created a new mixed use neighborhood.