Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency Project Earns Envision Platinum Award
3-April-2024
Washington, D.C. and New York City — The Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency – Battery project located in New York, New York, has earned an Envision Platinum award. This project is part of the larger Lower Manhattan Coastal Resilience initiative aimed at reducing flood risk from coastal storms and sea level rise. Led by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) on behalf of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation (NYC Parks) and the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice (MOCEJ), this project will rebuild the existing deteriorating wharf structure at a higher elevation to protect against sea level rise while integrating it with the iconic waterfront park at the southern tip of Manhattan.
The Battery is home to extensive gardens, artwork, and cultural landmarks and is the departure point for vessels taking thousands of passengers every year to the Statue of Liberty. The project will ensure the waterfront’s resilience over the next 80 years while promoting sustainable and resilient infrastructure in Lower Manhattan, a vital district of New York City. The Envision framework was used throughout the project’s development to track and improve sustainability performance. Exploring opportunities across key themes such as reducing embodied carbon, managing stormwater quantity and quality, and minimizing waste sent to landfills resulted in several innovative strategies. These strategies include reusing site materials, utilizing locally sourced and low-carbon materials, and investigating transportation alternatives that reduce emissions and pollutants.
Among the unique features of the wharf design is the multi-level slip design that provides universal access to vessels with varying freeboard heights for the wide range of sea level elevations at the wharf from the present day to 2100. This adaptive design provides flexibility for uncertain future conditions while preserving views of the Harbor, architectural details, and the character of the existing beloved park.
Material reuse and waste management were drivers of the design, which incorporates significant quantities of granite, metals, and wood from the existing site and provides a hierarchy for removals that prioritizes reuse and recycling and minimizes landfill waste. Plantings in the harsh waterfront environment were specified for salt tolerance and anticipated increasing urban heat, while maintaining the colorful perennial variety throughout the seasons that characterizes the larger park design.
The project will contribute to long-term community goals by addressing the impending sea level rise, restoring the wharf conditions for continued safe usability, and preserving The Battery’s iconic and historic character. Construction is being divided into two phases of partial wharf closures to minimize disruptions to park and ferry activity to and from Liberty and Ellis Islands, with project completion targeted for 2026.
