Ned Smyth’s “Upper Room” brings history into the Financial District. The design is based on the architecture of ancient Egyptian temples, and is tiled in red mosaics. “The Upper Room” functions as a plaza with benches and chess tables, closed in by mosaic columns which reference the lotus capitals used in Egyptian temples. Completed in 1987, the sculptural plaza marks the entrance to the Albany Street Esplanade, and was the first commissioned artwork in Battery Park. Now, as Battery Park continues to develop and expand the public artwork in the park, “Upper Room” serves as a reminder of ancient cultures and history.
