Living Breakwaters
Staten Island, New York
Following the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Presidential Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force launched Rebuild by Design to seek community- and policy-based solutions to protect US cities most vulnerable to intense weather events. This innovative design competition brought together interdisciplinary teams of researchers, designers, engineers, government off cials, businesses, policy-makers and local groups to craft innovative and replicable solutions to protect our at-risk coastal communities against future events and redevelop them
in environmentally friendly and economically viable ways. WSP was part of a multidisciplinary team led by SCAPE Landscape Architecture that was selected as one of 10 teams from among hundreds of applicants to participate in this year-long two-phase process. The SCAPE team’s proposal, Living Breakwaters, was selected as one of the competition-winning proposals, and the State of New York was awarded $60 Million for implementation of the project.
Living Breakwaters, developed by SCAPE/Landscape Architecture in collaboration with WSP and seven other consultants, is designed to reduce the risk of storm damage to the south shore of Staten Island by creating habitat breakwaters to attenuate waves and reduce shoreline erosion. The project will also create habitat for juvenile fish and other marine species, rebuild local oyster populations and create educational, recreational, and commercial opportunities for residents. This living infrastructure will be paired with social engagement programs designed to bring residents to the water to re-engage with their ecology. The project is now a project of the State of New York and will be further developed and implemented by the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery in the coming years.
WSP is conducting all in-water geotechnical analysis for the design of the living breakwaters and is supporting the community engagement effort, especially as it relates to the siting and design for the Water Hub, an on-land space for visiting groups, recreational activities, and educational programs.
in environmentally friendly and economically viable ways. WSP was part of a multidisciplinary team led by SCAPE Landscape Architecture that was selected as one of 10 teams from among hundreds of applicants to participate in this year-long two-phase process. The SCAPE team’s proposal, Living Breakwaters, was selected as one of the competition-winning proposals, and the State of New York was awarded $60 Million for implementation of the project.
Living Breakwaters, developed by SCAPE/Landscape Architecture in collaboration with WSP and seven other consultants, is designed to reduce the risk of storm damage to the south shore of Staten Island by creating habitat breakwaters to attenuate waves and reduce shoreline erosion. The project will also create habitat for juvenile fish and other marine species, rebuild local oyster populations and create educational, recreational, and commercial opportunities for residents. This living infrastructure will be paired with social engagement programs designed to bring residents to the water to re-engage with their ecology. The project is now a project of the State of New York and will be further developed and implemented by the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery in the coming years.
WSP is conducting all in-water geotechnical analysis for the design of the living breakwaters and is supporting the community engagement effort, especially as it relates to the siting and design for the Water Hub, an on-land space for visiting groups, recreational activities, and educational programs.