Vishaan Chakrabarti’s Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU) has been selected to lead the design of the new $12 million Niagara Falls Heritage Gateways project, the studio unveiled via a press announcement on Thursday.

The project’s brief calls for the creation of four gateway structures and will supposedly enhance connections between downtown Niagara Falls and the popular state park in an extension of a previous strategic plan begun by PAU and the state in early 2021.

"We're thrilled to continue our work with New York State in Niagara Falls with an expanded team including landscape architects Hargreaves Jones," Chakrabarti said of the new collaboration."The Niagara Falls Heritage Gateways project is a chance to demonstrate how thoughtful design can restore rather than remake our cities." 

"It is by building on a foundation of shared history — instead of trying to reinvent cities from scratch — that we truly strengthen and benefit communities. Public infrastructure is at the center of successful urbanism — we applaud New York State for championing public spaces and architecture that connect us to our narratives, to our environment, and to one another."

According to the design team, the scope of the project will include: 

• Reinterpreting a stretch of the historic Niagara Falls Power Company’s hydraulic canal as an engaging pedestrian walkway that illustrates the history of large-scale electricity production and its effects on the American society in its design.  
• Constructing an observation deck along the border of Niagara Falls State Park, accessible from Buffalo Avenue and linked via stairway to the park itself, with panoramic views of the American Rapids and Goat Island. The design will preserve existing tree coverage and provide opportunities for outdoor seating.   
• Transforming DiFranco Park into a multi-use pavilion for outdoor performances, recreation and public gathering spaces. 
• Creating a pocket park at the corner of Buffalo Avenue and 1st Street that will provide respite and activate the streetscape. 

Empire State Development President and CEO Hope Knight added that it was a "first step in New York State's strategy for bringing long-dormant sites." 

PAU expects the project to be completed sometime in 2024.