BATTERY PARK CITY / WORLD FINANCIAL CENTER STREETSCAPE SECURITY PLAN
Client
The Battery Park City Authority
Team
Rodgers Marvel Architects (lead/image credits,) Michael Fishman (Principal) Sam Schwartz Company
Urban Question
How can a secure streetscape keep a standoff distance from the building line of the World Financial Center to protect from errand vehicles without compromising aesthetics, functionality of the street and pedestrian / vehicular needs?
Urban Answer
Protecting our assets need not reflect a desperate condition of Jersey Barriers and bollards. Analyzing speeds and directionality of potential vehicular threats, a system of hardened street furniture was developed to anchor itself into the sidewalk. Using existing streetscape elements: bus shelters, lampposts, trash receptacles, planters and newsstands; an invisible security system was designed to extend the impact standoff by 20-30 feet.
Protecting our assets need not reflect a desperate condition of Jersey Barriers and bollards.
An entire World Financial Center perimeter strategy was developed to protect the building lines with street furniture and landscape elements. Medians and planters as well as street furniture (bus stops, trash receptacles, lamp posts and newsstands) were hardened by tying them together beneath the sidewalk. By keeping security functions out of site will allow for maximizing available sidewalk space and keeping the area from appearing ‘defensive.’