The East Side Coastal Resiliency Project (ESCR), a groundbreaking 2.25-mile flood protection system designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), has reached a major milestone with the opening of key areas of East River Park in New York City. The innovative project, conceived as a "parkipelago" of interconnected parks along the East River waterfront, creates a series of elevated green spaces that serve dual purposes as flood barriers and public amenities for the surrounding Lower East Side neighborhood.
The massive undertaking covers an area of 69,700,000 square meters and represents a revolutionary approach to urban resilience and flood protection. Rather than traditional concrete barriers, the project integrates landscape architecture with critical infrastructure to create elevated parks that protect the community while providing recreational and educational opportunities. The design transforms the waterfront into a continuous network of green spaces that can withstand storm surges and rising sea levels while maintaining the area's connection to the East River.
Bjarke Ingels, founding partner of BIG, led the design team alongside partners Beat Schenk, Daniel Sundlin, and Kai-Uwe Bergmann. The project involved extensive collaboration with multiple firms including MNLA, ONE Architecture & Urbanism, AKRF & KSE, Arcadis, Jacobs, Hardesty Hanover, Siteworks, Wesler Cohen, Hazen & Sawyer, Pentagram, Hortus Environmental Design, FHI Studio, Starr Whitehouse, and James Lima Planning & Development. This collaborative approach ensured that the project addressed not only flood protection needs but also community requirements and environmental sustainability.
The East Side River Park project includes the Solar One Environmental Education Center, a key component that will serve as a hub for environmental learning and community engagement. Solar One, in partnership with NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and Gilbane Building Company, worked closely with BIG to create a facility that embodies the project's mission of climate resilience and education. The center features sustainable design elements and will offer programs focused on environmental stewardship and climate adaptation.
Construction of the project required unprecedented coordination between city agencies and private partners. The City of New York and NYC Department of Design & Construction served as the primary clients for the East Side Coastal Resiliency component, while Solar One and NYC Economic Development Corporation led the educational center portion. The project's technical complexity demanded expertise from numerous specialized firms, including TYLin for structural engineering, Cosentini Associates for MEP systems, and Cerami Associates for acoustical design.
The park's elevated design allows it to function as a protective barrier during storm events while maintaining accessibility and usability during normal conditions. The landscape incorporates native plantings and sustainable materials, including extensive use of wood and stone elements that complement the natural waterfront environment. These materials were carefully selected to withstand both regular use and extreme weather events while requiring minimal maintenance.
Photography by renowned architectural photographer Iwan Baan, along with images by Foad Sarsangi, NYCDDC/Matthew Lapiska, BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, Jonathan Morefield, and BIG/Jeff Tao, documents the completed project and showcases how the elevated parkland seamlessly integrates with the surrounding urban fabric. The visual documentation captures both the project's monumental scale and its intimate community spaces.
Scheduled for full completion in 2025, the East Side River Park represents a new model for climate-resilient infrastructure that prioritizes both protection and quality of life. The project demonstrates how innovative design can address the urgent challenges of climate change while creating valuable public spaces that strengthen communities and enhance urban life along New York's waterfront.
