Shaping the Future through Visionary Design

Paul Friedberg: Pioneering Founder and Visionary Architect

Early Life and Career

Born in 1931 in New York, Paul Friedberg was introduced to the world of landscapes at an early age. His father, a weekend landscape contractor, established a nursery business where Friedberg actively participated, nurturing his fascination with the natural environment. Following his passion, Friedberg pursued studies in ornamental horticulture at Cornell's agriculture school.

After college, he moved to New York City and found work in architecture and landscape architecture offices. In 1958, he took a bold step and established his own practice, M. Paul Friedberg and Associates (known today as MPFP). Although his early work was bound by convention and bureaucracy, Friedberg's passion for transformative design soon began to shine through.

An individual wearing a leather jacket.
A cluster of individuals seated on stairs adjacent to a fountain.

Visionary Strides in Landscape Architecture

Friedberg's breakthrough truly came to fruition in 1965 when he designed the total play environment at Jacob Riis Houses. This project was an industry game-changer, featuring a variety of interactive architectural features, all interconnected without fences. It encouraged exploration, creativity, and cooperation among children of different ages and abilities. 

The success of Riis Plaza garnered widespread attention, earning Friedberg recognition as a leading expert in his field and setting the stage for a number of other groundbreaking designs. His empirical approach allowed him to design spaces that catered to the genuine needs, habits, and desires of the users. 

A gathering of individuals seated around a table.

Legacy of Excellence and Innovation

Today, MPFP proudly carries forward Paul Friedberg's visionary legacy. Building upon his revolutionary principles, we continue to push the boundaries of modern landscape architecture and urban design. Our commitment to transforming spaces and enriching human experiences drives us to create designs that transcend conventional norms and ignite the imagination.

Paul Friedberg's indelible impact on the world of landscape architecture remains an inspiration to us all. His relentless pursuit of visionary design and his dedication to understanding and meeting the genuine needs of communities have shaped the identity and purpose of MPFP. As we venture into the future, we continue to create landscapes that leave a lasting positive imprint on people's lives and the urban fabric of our communities.

Designing History, Inspiring Generations

US State Department

Washington, DC

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Bed Stuy Gateway Plaza

Brooklyn, NY

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Park West

808 Columbus New York, NY

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Stony Brook University

Stony Brook, NY

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Shops at Atlas Park

Queens, NY

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Time Warner

New York, NY

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Ichan Stadium

New York, NY

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St. Francis

New York, NY

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Randall's Island Master Plan

New York, NY

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Arlington Gateway

Arlington, VA

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Queen's Square

Yokohama, Japan

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Andromeda House

Jaffa, Israel

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Fordham University at Lincoln Center

New York, NY

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Yerba Buena Gardens Children’s Center

San Francisco, CA

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Fulton County Government Plaza

Atlanta, GA

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Fort Lincoln

Washington, DC

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James Center

Hartford, CT

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Springfield School Amphitheater

Massachusetts

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NYC City Hall Fountain

New York, NY

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Olympic Plaza

Alberta, CA

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Park Place

Vancouver, BC

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Monroe Center

Grand Rapids, MI

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Transpotomac Canal Center

Alexandria, VA

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Battery Park City

New York, NY

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67th Street Playground

New York, NY

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Pershing Park

Washington, DC

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Winter Garden Niagra Falls

Niagara Falls, NY

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Honeywell

Minneapolis, MN

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Jeanette Park

New York, NY

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Loring Greenway

Minneapolis, MN

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AC Nielsen HQ

Chicago, IL

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NYC Police Plaza

New York, NY

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State Street Mall

Madison, WI

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State Street Bank

Quincy, MA

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Peavey Plaza

Minneapolis, MN

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Timberform

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The Superblock

New York, NY

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Modular Play Environment

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Buchanan High School

Washington, DC

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Leffert Place

New York, NY

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Carver House

New York, NY

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Riis Park Plaza

New York, NY

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Timberform

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The Superblock

New York, NY

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Buchanan High School

Washington, DC

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Riis Park Plaza

New York, NY

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Modular Play Environment

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Leffert Place

New York, NY

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Carver House

New York, NY

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Designing History, Inspiring Generations

Queen's Square

Yokohama, Japan

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Andromeda House

Jaffa, Israel

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Fordham University at Lincoln Center

New York, NY

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Yerba Buena Gardens Children’s Center

San Francisco, CA

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Fulton County Government Plaza

Atlanta, GA

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2000s

1990s

1980s

1970s

1960s

10 Hallets Point -

Queens, NY

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10K Hill South -

Washington, DC

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25 Kent -

Brooklyn, NY

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28 East 28th Street -

New York, NY

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211 East 70th Street -

New York, NY

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215 East 68th Street -

New York, NY

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437 Madison Avenue -

New York, NY

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601 Lexington Avenue -

New York, NY

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677 Washington Boulevard -

Stamford, CT

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767 5th Avenue Plaza -

New York, NY

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Estate at The Yards -

Washington, DC

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St. Vincent's Triangle/NYC Aids Memorial Park -

New York, NY

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Shops at Riverside -

Hackensack, NJ

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Shippan Landing -

Stamford, CT

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Robinson Landing -

Alexandra, VA

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River Park 5 -

Brooklyn, NY

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River Park 1 -

Brooklyn, NY

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Randall's Island Park -

New York, NY

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Public Hotel -

New York, NY

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One Hill South -

Washington, DC

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Morgan Library -

New York, NY

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Microsoft Terrace -

New York, NY

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Liberty Island -

New York, NY

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Greybarn -

Amityville, NY

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Greenwich Lane -

New York, NY

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Garvies Point -

Glen Cove, NY

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780 Third Avenue -

New York, NY

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Denizen Bushwick -

Brooklyn, NY

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Banner Lane -

Washington, DC

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Deutsche Bank -

New York, NY

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Dock 72 -

Brooklyn, NY

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The Yards Park -

Washington, DC

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Syosset Park -

Oyster Bay, NY

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Carver House - 1963

New York, NY

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Leffert Place - 1964

New York, NY

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Riis Park Plaza - 1965

New York, NY

View Project

Modular Play Environment - 1965

View Project

Buchanan High School - 1966

Washington, DC

View Project

The Superblock - 1967

New York, NY

View Project

Timberform - 1969

View Project

NYC Police Plaza - 1971

New York, NY

View Project

AC Nielsen HQ - 1971

Chicago, IL

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Loring Greenway - 1974

Minneapolis, MN

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Peavey Plaza - 1975

Minneapolis, MN

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Jeanette Park - 1975

New York, NY

View Project

State Street Bank - 1977

Quincy, MA

View Project

State Street Mall - 1978

Madison, WI

View Project

Honeywell - 1978

Minneapolis, MN

View Project

Winter Garden Niagra Falls - 1978

Niagara Falls, NY

View Project

Pershing Park - 1979

Washington, DC

View Project

Monroe Center - 1980

Grand Rapids, MI

View Project

Fort Lincoln - 1981

Washington, DC

View Project

Park Place - 1982

Vancouver, BC

View Project

Olympic Plaza - 1983

Alberta, CA

View Project

NYC City Hall Fountain - 1984

New York, NY

View Project

Springfield School Amphitheater - 1985

Massachusetts

View Project

67th Street Playground - 1986

New York, NY

View Project

James Center - 1987

Hartford, CT

View Project

Transpotomac Canal Center - 1988

Alexandria, VA

View Project

Battery Park City - 1989

New York, NY

View Project

Fulton County Government Plaza - 1990

Atlanta, GA

View Project

Fordham University at Lincoln Center - 1998

New York, NY

View Project

Yerba Buena Gardens Children’s Center - 1998

San Francisco, CA

View Project

Queen's Square - 1999

Yokohama, Japan

View Project

Andromeda House - 1999

Jaffa, Israel

View Project

Arlington Gateway - 2000

Arlington, VA

View Project

Randall's Island Master Plan - 2001

New York, NY

View Project

St. Francis - 2002

New York, NY

View Project

Ichan Stadium - 2003

New York, NY

View Project

Time Warner - 2004

New York, NY

View Project

Shops at Atlas Park - 2005

Queens, NY

View Project

Stony Brook University - 2007

Stony Brook, NY

View Project

Park West - 2007

808 Columbus New York, NY

View Project

Bed Stuy Gateway Plaza - 2009

Brooklyn, NY

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US State Department - 2010

Washington, DC

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