[Re]constructing the Water's Edge

[Re]constructing the

Water’s Edge Architecture as machine to manage flood waters & ecology

Daniel M. Horn Thesis Advisor: Farzana Gandhi

NYIT School of Architecture & Design

Daniel M. Horn

Architectural Thesis - 2012/2013 Advisor: Professor Farzana Gandhi

Contents Research Abstract......................................................................................................................................................................................8 Terrain Vague.........................................................................................................................................................................10 Evolution of Newtown Creek............................................................................................................................................12 Building as landscape..........................................................................................................................................................30 Storm water mitigation.....................................................................................................................................................34 Bulkhead typology................................................................................................................................................................38 The Isolator............................................................................................................................................................................54 Sectional analysis.................................................................................................................................................................62

Design Bulkhead prototypes.............................................................................................................................................................70 Urban / infrastructural scale...........................................................................................................................................86 Building scale..........................................................................................................................................................................102 References...............................................................................................................................................................................140

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Research

Abstract Hurricane Sandy impacted the entire eastern seaboard on October 29, 2012, leaving devastation in its path. Massive storm surges as high as 14’ in New York City were recorded. With the increase of storm storms caused by global warming predicted for years to come, our outdated infrastructure adjacent to the water’s edge must be re-thought and re-constructed to better protect our neighborhoods and cities. Along NYC’s waterways, various tributaries emerge which date back to the regions long forgotten history as a rich natural ecology.

Newtown Creek, located in the City of New York, is a tributary of the East River and is part of the New York/New Jersey harbor estuary system. It forms the northern border of Brooklyn and the southern border of Queens. In the mid 1800s, the 3.5-mile creek became one of the busiest hubs of industrial activity in the country. More than fifty industries emerged along the water’s edge, including refineries, petrochemical plants, glue factories and coal plants. Massive industrial pollution resulted from this heavy activity. What’s worse, NYC began dumping raw sewage into the creek in 1856 something that continues to this day via combined sewer overflows. Currently, factories and facilities still operate along the creek creating a physical and social barrier between the adjacent populations and the water. It was proposed as a national superfund site in September 2009 and received that designation in 2011.

If that wasn’t enough, on October 5, 1950 an estimated 17-30 million gallons of oil leaked into the water, settling on the creek bed and seeping into the soil underneath local communities. The spill continues to burn underground to this day and is estimated to course below 55 acres of Greenpoint residential, commercial and industrial property; affecting hundreds of homes and dozens of businesses.

This has all contributed to the creeks overall failure as a natural ecosystem.

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Terrain Vague Terrain Vague is a term that is used to describe areas within a failed ecosystem, often due to negative human intervention. Specifically in New York City, these are areas right along the border between land and water. They are considered industrial wastelands, brownfields, and generally under-utilized spaces.

A new typology of intervention is possible within these sites, making them experiments for humanecosystem interaction that can benefit the natural environment.

In my own investigations on site, a new typology of terrain vague has emerged. “Water’s edge� terrain vague spaces come about along the banks of the newtown creek mainly because of the lack of publicly active spaces connected to the water. All of the programs along the creek are industrial related sites which act as barriers, shielding people from experiencing the creek.

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Evolution of Newtown Creek Pre-settlement - 1600s [ site ecology ] Prior to Dutch settlement of what is now known as Greenpoint, NY, much of the area was a natural wetland, with diverse wildlife and plantlife around its edges. The Dutch settlers cultivated the land and fished in both the East river and the Newtown Creek. The creek was and still is considered a watershed and an estuary - a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Natural ecologies slow the impact of severe storm surges and cleanses retreating storm and flood waters by slowly filtering it back into groundwater.

[ A Brief Timeline through maps ]

pre-settlement waters edge wetlands dense forrest cultivated farmland

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Evolution of Newtown Creek Pre-settlement - 1600s [ wildlife ] Diverse wildlife inhabited Newtown Creek in the 1600s.

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bluecrab clams bass seagull heron crane

Evolution of Newtown Creek Industrial development - 1800s [ shipbuilding ] The area was also used to house the regions ship building production needs.

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Evolution of Newtown Creek Industrial development - 1800s [ oil refineries ] Numerous oil refineries and petrochemical plants emerged as the needs for production increased during the industrial revolution.

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Evolution of Newtown Creek Pollution - mid 1900s [ oil spill ] On October 5, 1950, an estimated 17-30 million gallons of oil leaked into the water, settling on the creek bed and seeping into the soil underneath local communities. The spill continues to burn underground to this day and is estimated to course below 55 acres of Greenpoint residential, commercial and industrial property; affecting hundreds of homes and dozens of businesses.

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current residential areas 2005 mapping of free-product 2003 mapping of free-product former exxonmobile terminal apollo st. creek parcels former paragon oil terminal

Evolution of Newtown Creek Pollution - mid 1900s [ brownfields ] As a result of the massive pollution, most of the sites along the water’s edge have been deemed environmentally hazardous, limiting them to only certain types of industrial programming.

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Brownfield sites environmental remediation sites hazardous remediation sites Major air pollution source sewage treatment facility combined sewage outfalls

Evolution of Newtown Creek Present day - 2012 / 2013 [ FEMA flood map ] FEMA future sea level rise / rapid ice melt prediction map. The threat of storm surge flooding will always be present in this vulnerable zone.

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fema current 1-in-100 yr flood zone 2020 1-in-100 yr flood zone (9” srl) 2050 1-in-100 yr flood zone (27” srl) 2080 1-in-100 yr flood zone (53” srl)

Evolution of Newtown Creek Present day - 2012 / 2013 [ Hurricane Sandy flood inundation zone ] Hurricane Sandy flooding map on Newtown Creek and surrounding communities - October 29, 2012. 6’ 10’ storm surge.

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Evolution of Newtown Creek Present day - 2012 / 2013 [ existing zoning ] As seen from the map on the next page, Greenpoint’s zoning layout is set up as a layered system, consisting of residential, commercial, a transition zone and eventually industrial. This unique layered condition seperates the public from the water’s edge. Residents do not even know what goes on in the existing industrial warehouses and other spaces that occupy the edge.

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RESIDENTIAL/COMMERCIAL COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL

INDUSTRIAL OPEN SPACE

LONG ISLAND CITY

W

N T O W

CR E E K

EAST RIVER

N

E

CALVARY CEMETARY

MASPETH

GREENPOINT M S G R. McGORLICK PARK

McCARREN PARK

Bulkhead typology Site research on the Newtown Creek included a very in depth analysis and assessment of the different types of bulkheads that create the water’s edge. Once again, a series of maps and diagrams were used to illustrate the many types of bulkheads.

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rip-rap (revetment)

Rip-rap Revetment concrete (rigid seawall) Concrete Wall Bulkhead timber (seawall) Timber Bulkhead natural boundary (“green” zone) Natural Boundary mudflats (intertidal zone)

Mudflats Ruins hybrid (rigid seawall) Hybrid Bulkhead

ruins (numerous materials)

Issues related to Water’s Edge: 1 - storm surges - flooding 2 - stormwater management 3 - ecology management 4 - soil contamination

1

2

3

4

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intact bulkhead - rip-rap revetment

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intact bulkhead - concrete wall bulkhead

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isolator position 2

Design

Bulkhead prototypes As part of my overall strategy, I conducted several targeted charrettes to come up with initial ideas for bulkhead typologies and more. These specifc ideas address flood issues, ecological issues and stormwater runoff issues related to current bulkhead design.

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proposal 1 - bulkhead as “filter�

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proposal 2 - bulkhead as “mitigator�

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proposal 3 - bulkhead as “machine�

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proposal 4 - bulkhead as “program�

CSO

Increase water runoff capacity

outfall locations

Underground systems

[ Combined Sewer Outflows ]

C

[

89 underground canals

Increase water runoff capacity

underground reservoir tanks

Canals

[ Underground canal & reservoir system ]

impervious surface

storm-water surface flow

Convert to: 50% One-Way Street 50% Sidewalk Swale

Increase water runoff capacity Re-route storm water runoff capacity

Above ground systems [ Storm water runoff patterns ]

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10’ parking

11’ moving lane

10’ 2-way bike lane

Increase water runoff capacity Re-route storm water runoff capacity

10’ green zone

Convert to: 50% One-Way Street 50% Sidewalk Swale

One-Way Conversion 2-way protected bike lane 1 lane of parking 1 way moving lane Planted green buffer zone

50-50 [ Bio-swales / One-Way Street Conversions ]

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Convert to: 50% Existing building use 50% Public access and flood resistance

postindustrial buildings

50-50

“bulkhead building� locations

[ Bulkhead buildings + building retrofitting ]

Building scale The introduction of the bulkhead building was key to the overall concept of rezoning and re-thinking the Newtown Creek waterfront and water’s edge. The goal was to bring people back to the water - in safe and resilient manner. A research lab and community/recreation center was the program for the site.

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Storm Surge Barrier

Storm Surge Barrier

Diagrams

Lock 1 lobby/ entrance historical presentation space outdoor exhibition space

Lock 2

offices/admin & enclosed space open courtyard research center wetlands

Lock 3

program

canal

open space

Storm Surge Barrier

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Lock 1

Lock 1

Lock 2

Lock 2

canal open space

Lock 3

e / recreation

recreational

open space

Lock 3

hardscape / softscape

recreational

Water + Program Diagrams

25’ storm surge 15’ storm surge 10’ storm surge (Hurricane Sandy) 0’ mean sea level

Flooding [ mean sea level to 25’ storm surge ]

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Rainwater Drainage Scupper System

High Tide Water Overflow

Excess Floodwaters FIlter Into Groundwater

Passive Building Systems [ mean sea level to 25’ storm surge ]

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Lock System Diagram

Lock 1

Lock 2

Lock 3

Flood Control - Lock System

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Lock 1

Lock 2

Lock 3

Site Plan

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Sections

Section A-A 0’ 5’

10’

20’

Section B-B 0’ 5’

10’

20’

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Plans

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17

+1 level

Bus stop Commercial Street

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10 4

15 3

16

5

16

17

2 8 4

+0 level To Public Boat Launch

To Adjacent Parking

1

Bus stop Commercial Street

13 16

14 4

12

6

16 18 12

7

9 4 6

-1 level Legend 1 - public lobby 2 - staff lobby 3 - research lobby 4 - restroom 5 - presentation space 6 - outdoor exhibition space 7 - classroom 8 - conference room

9 - office 10 - research lab 11 - fabrication lab 12 - outdoor plaza 13 - public cafe 14 - kitchen 15 - dormitory 16 - outdoor patio 17 - wetlands

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11 12 6

6

-2 level

Roof [ drainage flows into locks ]

Outdoor Patio Structure [ exposed trusses ]

Program Structure [ exposed steel ]

Program Structure [ board-form concrete ]

Circulation Material [ perforated metal ]

Lock System [ flood / tide control ]

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Renderings

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References / footnotes “Newtown Creek Brooklyn and Queens, NY.” EPA. Environmental 2 Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 28 Dec. 2012.

Ente, Bernard. “NCA:Image Galleries.” Newtown Creek Alliance. 3 N.p., 2006-2010. Web. 28 Dec. 2012.

Ritchie, Ian. “Crystal Palace Concert Platform» Ian Ritchie 4 Architects.” Ian Ritchie Architects. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Dec. 2012.

“Allied Works Architecture - Maryhill Overlook.” Allied Works 5 Architecture - Maryhill Overlook. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Dec. 2012.

Eisenman, Peter. “City of Culture of GaliciaEisenman Architects.”

6 The City of Culture. ArcSpace, 23 Jan. 2006. Web. 28 Dec. 2012.

Broek, Rob. “High-Tech Solutions for Flood Control.” About.com 7 Architecture. Jackie Craven, n.d. Web. 28 Dec. 2012.

Sack, Juergen. “High-Tech Solutions for Flood Control.” About. com Architecture. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Dec. 2012. 8 “Marken Dike.” Marken Dike. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Dec. 2012. <http:// www.ics.uci.edu/~eppstein/pix/netherlands/MarkenDike.html>. 9 “Groyne.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Sept. 2012. Web. 28 Dec. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groyne>. 10 “Thomas Engineering Photos.”. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Dec. 2012. <www. thomasengineeringpa.com/photo_gallery/photo_gallery.htm>. 12

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