The February issue of UK architecture magazine The Architectural Review, focusing on coasts, spotlights the East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) project, designed by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects (MNLA), ONE Architecture & Urbanism, AKRF, and residents of the Lower East Side. The story traces the history of ESCR, which stemmed from the original 2014 BIG U vision that proposed 10 miles of protective parkland and public realm along New York City’s southern coastline in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. Stretching along the East River in Manhattan, ESCR encompasses 2.25 miles of new and revitalized parkland that doubles as vital flood protection for Lower Manhattan and 110,000 New Yorkers. The design integrates flood barrier walls and gates, bridging berms, and new areas for relaxation and recreation such as dog runs, basketball and tennis courts, picnic areas, lawns, and other public amenities. Sections of ESCR, including East River Park, are now open, with the final phase expected to be completed in 2027.
