Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, congratulates the New York City Economic Development Corporation on today’s highly anticipated grand opening of the East Midtown Greenway in New York City. The project, designed by Stantec and constructed by Skanska, is the second of three sections of the East Midtown Waterfront Project and will contribute to completing the pedestrian esplanade and bikeway loop that will fully encircle Manhattan.

The design intent of the greenway features three major components: a pedestrian bridge, an in-water structure, and the topside landscape and bike path. The new pedestrian bridge at 54th Street will provide a connection for pedestrians and bicyclists between the community and the greenway, and the in-water structure will serve as the foundation for the topside linear park, which was designed as a simple and elegant structure. In total, the project adds almost 2,000 linear feet of separated bikeway and walkway to an area of Manhattan that needs it most.

Stantec coordinated extensively with numerous city agencies while providing project management, civil engineering, waterfront engineering, structural engineering, landscape architecture, public art coordination, traffic engineering, electrical engineering, and communication systems design.

“Cities across the world are looking for ways to become more bikeable and walkable, but new pathways and corridors can also be places people want to be in and of themselves,” said Nicole Ogrosso, project manager at Stantec. “The East Midtown Greenway offers just that—a unique waterfront experience that is both beautiful and parklike. We’re incredibly proud to see this project come to life and congratulate the New York City Economic Development Corporation and the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation on today’s grand opening.”

Pushing the limits of design and engineering 

The in-water structure was designed to support a heavy load of topsoil and large trees while also capturing stormwater to sustain the landscape. Original concept plans called for box beams running laterally. However, as the landscape architecture team looked to maximize the environment on the top side of the structure, the structural team’s goal of maintaining a slim profile was challenged.

Through creative collaboration, the teams devised a solution that allowed for greater plant density without sacrificing a streamlined structure. Tub girders were identified as an opportunity to add more soil depth to accommodate the 60 large trees and 1,000 cubic feet of necessary soil without increasing the depth of the structure. The tub girders were stepped to accommodate soil volumes, while still maintaining an appearance of a slimmer profile.

The stepped section helped balance the structural design goals and landscape architectural design by providing soil volume within the depth of the structure itself. The structural tub girders provide ample vertical soil depth to support large trees where necessary, while soil cells under the bicycle path provide lateral root volume and support for the bikeway to prevent settlement. Trench drains along the structure’s edge capture stormwater to naturally irrigate plantings.

Creating a diversified experience 

By incorporating diverse plantings, rock structures, and areas for respite, the design team cultivated a setting that offers a new experience every few steps of the greenway. Artist Stacy Levy designed custom pavers within the walkway that depict the diatom—or single-celled algae—of the East River. The team drew inspiration from the natural landscape of New York, particularly the unique opportunity to view the Manhattan shoreline from the water, when creating the various “scenes” along the greenway.

Greenway visitors can explore new and diverse landscapes—known as Birch Point, the South Dune/Pollinator Meadow, the Bluff, the Grove, and the North Dune/Wetland Forest—that are marked by unique plant species, trees, and rock formations along the 2,000-foot journey. Together, these structural and landscape architectural design features work to create a unique narrative that evolves each season to tell a new story.

Learn more about Stantec’s work in Landscape Architecture, Bridges & Structures, and Complete Streets & Active Transportation.

About Stantec 

Communities are fundamental. Whether around the corner or across the globe, they provide a foundation, a sense of place and of belonging. That’s why at Stantec, we always design with community in mind.

We care about the communities we serve—because they’re our communities too. This allows us to assess what’s needed and connect our expertise, to appreciate nuances and envision what’s never been considered, to bring together diverse perspectives so we can collaborate toward a shared success.

We’re designers, engineers, scientists, and project managers, innovating together at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. Balancing these priorities results in projects that advance the quality of life in communities across the globe.

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