As part of a $1.5 billion expansion, Javits Center opens working rooftop farm and landscaped terrace
Stantec-supported landscape design includes a one-acre farm, orchard, shade garden, and meadow garden
11/15/2021 NEW YORK, NY TSX, NYSE:STN
Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, celebrates the completion of the Javits Center’s new rooftop event space as part of its $1.5 billion expansion project on Manhattan’s West Side. The 200,000 square-foot rooftop includes a glass-enclosed pavilion, an outdoor terrace, and a one-acre working farm, which is expected to generate up to 40,000 pounds of produce each year. The expansion project added 1.2 million square feet of total event-related space and has achieved LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
The four-year expansion project was led by the New York Convention Center Development Corporation, a subsidiary of Empire State Development; a design-build joint venture between Lendlease and Turner Construction; and architectural and engineering firms TVS, Moody Nolan, Stantec, and WXY Studio.
“The opening of the new greenspace at the Javits Center adds to the fabric of sustainable and resilient design in New York City and is an exciting milestone in the city’s recovery amidst the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Amy Seek, landscape design director in Stantec’s New York City office. “It has been a tremendous honor for us to be involved in the expansion of this iconic New York event space, where people can now enjoy a unique outdoor experience high up in the world’s most famous skyline.”
As landscape architect for the project, Stantec provided services to support the design of the roof terrace, which includes an event space and working farm along with a meadow, a shade garden, and an orchard with apple trees, pear trees, and associated border plantings. In conjunction with pavilion architect WXY Studio and building architect TVS, Stantec designed a richly planted landscape, coordinating optimal plantings depths with structural capacity and specifying soils suitable for plant growth on the roof, with support from subconsultant Siteworks.
The garden spaces were designed to support significant agricultural production. Stantec’s meadow design will draw pollinators, show dramatic seasonal changes, and bask and blow in the sunny rooftop exposure. Finally, the shade garden design features a collection of plants that will thrive under low sun light while still providing seasonal interest. Native plant material was largely selected for the project’s landscape design, along with plants that attract pollinators for habitat and food.
At street level, Stantec was also responsible for design of a new plaza and sidewalks.
Stantec also served as site/civil engineer for the project, which expanded the convention center from 39th Street to 40th Street and from 11th Avenue to 12th Avenue. Stantec, with support from subconsultants PHA and Siteworks, was responsible for investigating and documenting existing utilities, preparing demolition plans for utilities to be removed, and designs for new utilities. New utilities included a 48-inch storm sewer and on-site detention system that traverses the site within the building’s foundation from 11th to 12th Avenue. The design required extensive documentation and coordination with key stakeholders, including the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.
“This project represents the untapped potential to better utilize rooftop space in dense, urban environments such as New York City to create opportunities for nature to flourish to the benefit of the environment and city residents,” said Jenny Hamann, landscape architect with Stantec. “It has been incredibly fulfilling to join this integrated, multidisciplinary team in creating this dynamic landscape in our own backyards.”
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'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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Media Contacts
Maggie Meluzio
Stantec Media Relations
(781) 221-1002
maggie.meluzio@stantec.com
Trevor Eckart
Stantec Media Relations
(215) 665-7187
trevor.eckart@stantec.com
