Thomas Phifer places arched pavilion in AECOM's flood-resilient Manhattan park

New York architecture studio Thomas Phifer and Partners has created a red concrete pavilion for infrastructure Battery Park City Authority's recently completed Wagner Park in Lower Manhattan, which was designed by infrastructure firm AECOM for increased flood resilience.

The Wagner Pavilion sits at one of the highest points of Wagner Park, a newly developed section of the shoreline at the southernmost tip of Manhattan that is part of a general South Battery Park City Resiliency Project.

Working with the landscape and engineering teams at AECOM, Thomas Phifer and Partners created a red concrete-clad pavilion with two wings that resemble, in plan, a pair of lungs.

The two wings splay out from a central entry point so that the entirety of the structure can act as a "gateway" to the park, according to the team, an effect aided by the "tremendous" vaults that line the wings on the parkside.

The pavilion holds a restaurant and classrooms, as well as a rooftop garden with vantage points designed to provide views across the harbour to the Statue of Liberty.

This was fitted with parapet planters to increase the profile of the structure.

"We are extremely proud to have contributed to the design of this important urban waterfront park, reimagined with sustainability and resiliency at the heart of our design vision," said studio founder Thomas Phifer.

"The Wagner Pavilion is a focal point, offering expansive views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and New York Harbor, while also hosting community activities and providing dining opportunities."

The pavilion is a visual signifier of the revamp – the scale of which is difficult to discern with the naked eye, but which involved extensive engineering to make the shoreline of flood-prone, densely populated Lower Manhattan more resilient.

In order to make the park and the low-lying tip of Manhattan more resistant to flooding, the whole park integrates different flood walls and drainage systems throughout.

A massive floodwall driven down into the bedrock represents the slope on the site, where the esplanade – which also serves as a relieving platform – transitions into the landscaped park.

AECOM included different plantings at different levels of the park, including a terraced "living shoreline" at one end that fosters marine life where the public space meets the water.

"At Wagner Park, we integrated infrastructure and placemaking to create a public space that serves the community and protects against rising sea levels,” said AECOM principal Gonzalo Cruz.

"From its flexible open lawn to its universally accessible gardens, this park reflects the power of collaboration in creating a landscape that responds to changes in climate, invites gathering and supports daily life for the next generation."

Flooding remains a distinct threat to coastal cities as sea levels rise with global heating. Other park projects that include flood resiliency strategies include one in Copenhagen by landscape architect Schønherr and a nature park with a flood-defence system by CF Møller.

Photography courtesy of Battery Park City Authority.

Project credits: 

Landscape architecture and urban design: AECOM
Architectural design team: Thomas Phifer and Partners
Landscape architect of record: Site Works
Structural engineering: AECOM Engineering
Marine structural engineering: AECOM Engineering
Civil engineering: Magnusson Klemencic Associates
Construction manager: LiRo-Hill
Park general contractor: Posillico Bove Joint Venture
Pavilion general contractor: EW Howell
MEP engineering: Milhouse
Lighting design: Tillotson Design Associates
Envelope: SGH
Sustainability certification: Atelier Ten
Surveyor: Naik Consulting Group
Geotechnical engineering: Oweis Engineering
Food service consulting: Cini-Little
Aquatic habitat consultant: Nautilus International Development Consulting
Expediter: Noel Building Consulting
Community engagement: Arch Street Communications
Signage: Tonic Group
AV/IT: Harvey Marshall Berling Associate

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