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There is no single source that provides building plans—you must find them through the process of elimination. Below, we have provided some key resources that should help you in your search and yield good results. Remember that not everything is digitized. Please see a Librarian should you need additional help navigating any of these resources. |
Ground Floor Plan. 2017. MFA2 Thesis: Terra New York by Min Kyung Kang, New York School of Interior Design, 2017. |
Real Estate Websites such as the following are often a great source of floor plans:
Zero in on neighborhoods or areas that best meet your needs. This page has several recommended resources that can help you find information on New York buildings.
Neighborhood Research
Neighborhood data is critical for understanding local housing and demographic trends, identifying community needs, and informing policy conversations. The NYU Furman Center's New York City Neighborhood Data Profiles are a one-stop platform for viewing and downloading neighborhood indicators, providing an in-depth look at
demographic
, housing market, land use, and neighborhood services indicators for the city’s 59 community districts.
This is your gateway to data, maps, and other resources describing New York City’s 59 community districts. Choose a community district profile by clicking on the map, or by searching for a district, neighborhood, or address
Other useful websites for insight on NYC neighborhoods in the 5 boroughs:
Locality NYC: includes neighborhood data, map overlays, and neighborhood summaries
An Extremely Detailed Guide to an Extremely Detailed Map of New York City Neighborhoods (October 2023 New York Times article)
Use Google Earth or Google Maps to scope out a building, check out the roof line, the street or surrounding area.
Think about where you travel every day. Like a neighborhood? Use Google Maps and zoom in to it.
Walk around!
Digital copies: 2010-present
Digital versions of the MFA-2 thesis books (beginning with the year 2010) can be found by logging into ResourceSpace: NYSID's Digital Media Collections using your nysid.edu email address and password. You can browse them in the Student Work > MFA2 660 Directed Thesis Research Books collection or perform a keyword search, such as "MFA2 hotel."
Subject to the approval of your instructor, you may utilize the base/skeleton floor plans illustrated in the case studies or potential sites in these books for your project.
Remember that you should never use a site for the same program (for example if your thesis project is a retail establishment, you may not use the floor plan of a retail building).
Print copies: 2000 - 2024
Subject to the approval of your instructor, you may utilize the base/skeleton floor plans illustrated in the case studies or potential sites in these books for your project.
Remember that you should never use a site for the same program (for example if your thesis project is a retail establishment, you may not use the floor plan of a retail building).
The Library team has migrated the thesis base building drawings from Canvas to ResourceSpace: NYSID's Digital Media Collections. The files are grouped in the Academic Resources > Thesis Base Building Drawings collection. You can also perform a search using keywords, such as "site Brooklyn".
Use NYCityMap to learn more about a building and lot at that location. Results of your search will include:
To search for a location by BBL or BIN, use the dropdown in the search bar to select your preferred search method.
The NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) has made it easier to access building floor plans through their online databases. You can start by visiting the DOB's Building Information System, where you can search for specific properties by address or block and lot number. Once you find the property, you can view the filing documents, which often include floor plans.
Online
You can request drawings, plans or documents for properties located in New York City by submitting a Record Request online in DOB’s Building Information System (BIS) via DOB NOW: BIS Options.
If you already have a DOB eFiling account, you can log into DOB NOW and select the BIS Options portal.
You can create a new eFiling account.
For step-by-step directions, see the Record Requests in DOB NOW guide. Requests can be made for folders, plans, microfilm, docket books, reels, index/I-cards, and curb cut cards.
Download Record Requests in DOB NOW guide.
If Building Plans are in DOB’s inventory, once a record request is submitted in DOB NOW, an email notification is sent to the requestor when the records are available for pick up at the borough office where the property is located.
The DOB provides two main online portals for looking up building information online.
BIS system to locate the BIS and numbers on your house and find out what's available online.
Online tool that enables owners, design professionals, licensees, and filing representatives to do all business with the Department of Buildings online.
Address: 280 Broadway, 3rd Fl. New York, NY 10007 Tel. 212-566-5000
Always call for hours. It is best to go in the morning and allow at LEAST a good half-day. You must be in the building by 3:30 pm to request plans but this will not be enough time to start your initial research there. You will need a number to be served at a window. You obtain your number (paper ticket) by going to the 3rd floor Borough Commissioner Office (Room 316). They will direct you from there.
While you are discouraged from using iconic, significant or landmarked buildings, there may be instances where your instructor approves the use of a historical structure.
The following resources may be of use in researching older New York City buildings
HABS/HAER/HALS (1933-Present) The Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), the Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) and the Historic American Landscape Survey (HALS) online collections include measured drawings, black-and-white photographs, color transparencies, photo captions, data pages including written histories, and supplemental materials. Since the National Park Service's HABS, HAER, and HALS programs create new documentation each year, digital images will continue to be added to the online collections.
New York City Architecture: How to Research a Building Researching a New York City building can be daunting and complicated. Based on the handout for the Investigating New York City Architecture Class from the Art & Architecture Collection of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, this guide will introduce you to the vast number of resources relating to the architecture of New York City that are in the collections of the New York Public Library, as well as other institutions.
