Ambitious waterfront development and coastal resilience project for New York City

Leading sustainable waterfront development 

The stormwater management design includes a variety of sustainable features including bioswales, streetside stormwater planters, porous pavement, enhanced tree pits, a constructed stormwater wetland, and the separation of the previously combined storm-sanitary sewer system. Using a “Living with Water” approach, the park layout and grading accounts for future flood patterns of the East River with certain elements of the park, such as the centralized bowl, intended to temporarily hold flood water to safeguard the buildings and streets. The park comfort station, maintenance and office building are LEED-silver certified and include photovoltaic power systems.

Phase I of the Hunter’s Point South park opened to the public in 2013 and includes a children’s playground, basketball courts, dog run, multipurpose play field and urban beach. Signature architectural elements include overlooks of the East River and Manhattan skyline featuring large elevated decks, sweeping shade canopies and intimate spaces for retreat. Phase 2 opened in June 2018 and offers additional public space that serves as a nature retreat from the hustle of urban living.

Arup’s infrastructure designs included 7,500 feet of sanitary and storm sewers, 3,700 feet of water main, and 4,000 feet of new and reconstructed streets. The entire development is located on the East River waterfront in Queens and includes up to 5,000 new housing units, 60% targeted to middle-income families. The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) is also planning for 100,000ft2 of retail, 50,000ft2 of community space and two schools.

Challenging geotechnical conditions 

Located on reclaimed land in riverside marshes with over a century and a half of industrial and transportation development, the Hunter’s Point South project area posed a number of geotechnical challenges. In addition to the variable and, in places, loosely compacted fill, the site was underlain by soft organic silts that are highly compressible and variable in thickness. Additionally, shallow transportation tunnels reduced the options for structural support of new infrastructure. 

To mitigate post-construction settlement of new constructed roadways and sewers, the ground was surcharged to reduce the compressibility characteristics of the soft silts. Lightweight backfills were also used in places where pile supports of the sewers was prohibited due to the presence of the tunnels. 

Public and agency coordination 

Construction of public works in New York City requires regulatory review by a number of agencies and commissions. Hunter’s Point South required reviews by New York City’s Departments of Environmental Protection, Transportation, City Planning, and Parks and Recreation, in addition to the city’s Fire Department, Metropolitan Transportation Agency, Public Design Commission and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. 

Adding to the mix, Arup’s work occurred in coordination with the construction of a new school by the city’s School Construction Authority and the development of new mixed-use towers by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development. Altogether, over 70 independent parties were consulted or coordinated with through the design stage. 

The final result achieves a new vision for New York’s abandoned industrial waterfronts and serves a model for future sustainable design.