A skyscraper is traditionally defined by how high it goes rather than how it meets the ground. In addition, a hotel program attracts a high-end environment, typically found in Downtown or Midtown Manhattan. In stark contrast, Manhattanville, Harlem, is an area mainly characterized by low-income housing and a tight-knit local community in an urban environment. Avoiding the Manhattan-style approach, the Greenscraper mediates between these two radically different areas and creates a new landmark to help trigger a rebirth of the area.

The building develops through the integration of different user types and creates a hybrid environment that is variegated, sustainable, and affordable. The building is a complex system composed of public and private elements – the hotel tower, the residential block, the community center and the vertical park. Each component is strongly defined, and their interconnection creates a whole new identity.