Arcadis to design a more flood protective park-like coastline for Manhattan, New York
Consultancy firm Arcadis announced it has been selected as Engineer of Record for a flood protection multiphase design of Manhattan’s Lower East Side coastline in New York City.
The new flood defence scheme spans 3.5 miles and is the first element of coastal storm and sea level rise defense system for Manhattan.
Arcadis is part of a team supporting New York City to protect the Lower East Side against severe weather events and sea level rise.
One of the proposals of the Rebuid by Design challenge suggested an elevated green belt along the south side of Manhattan.
Rebuild by design
The flood protection plan responds to the impact of superstorm Sandy in 2012 when streets, tunnels and subway systems were flooded and New York Stock Exchange closed for two days.
In the aftermath, the US government organised a challenge for designers to come up with innovative solutions to make New York more resilient. The challenge was led by Dutch special water envoy Henk Ovink.
One of the winning teams of this Rebuild by Design challenge was Big U, lead by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, that suggested the construction of a sloped park-liked barrier that's built into the landscape of Manhattan’s coastline.
The US government awarded the proposal 335 million US dollar to prepare Manhattan for the next superstorm.
Enforced boulevard of The Hague that combines an underground levee with an eye-catching designed seaside resort.
Wealth of expertise
According to Arcadis City Executive Peter Glus, New York City has proven to be vulnerable to the effects of sea level rise.
‘Our team brings a wealth of expertise in climate change adaptability and resilience from our Dutch heritage and from our experienced engineers who designed flood protection systems across the Louisiana coast following Hurricane Katrina’, said Glus.
The projects conceptual design was amongst others inspired by the construction of a reinforced boulevard in The Hague, the Netherlands. The new boulevard combines the construction of a new underground levee with an eye-catching designed seaside resort.
'Replumb your cities.' 'Regard storm water as an asset not as a nuisance', advised John Batten, Global Cities Director of Arcadis at the introduction of the Amsterdam International Water Week that is to take place early November.
Community enjoyment
In collaboration with the New York City and local communities, Arcadis will design flood protection solutions that merge into the urban fabric for 200,000 residents and 21,000 businesses. These solutions will strengthen coastal defenses and improve community enjoyment of existing parks while offering future flood protection and environmental benefits.
Arcadis will also develop supporting documentation necessary for changes to FEMA flood hazard maps. Design features will incorporate a combination of architectural floodwalls, bridging berms, embankments, moveable floodgates, and interior drainage improvements, all integrated with East River Park amenities to include recreational facilities, pedestrian and bicycle pathways.
High-profile water management plans
Arcadis has undertaken many high-profile water management and resiliency planning projects throughout the US, including Hurricane Harvey response in Houston to support damaged or at-risk commercial, industrial and public sector facilities, the assessment of San Francisco's Mission Creek, and reducing risks to communities in Norfolk, Virginia, against severe weather events via an enhanced flood protection system.
This news item was originally published on the website of Arcadis US.
Read also on this website
• Flavour of Dutch dialogues gets into 1 billion dollar US disaster resilience plans, 27 January 2016
• Arcadis to study feasibility multi-purpose levee for protection Lower Manhattan, New York, 4 October 2013
• Official opening boulevard Scheveningen adds new icon to modern coastal landscaping, 9 April 2013
More information
Arcadis
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
+31 20 2011 011
www.arcadis.com