East Side Coastal Resiliency

East Side Coastal Resiliency is a critical physical, social, and economic resiliency project with an integrated coastal protection system.

When Superstorm Sandy made landfall near Atlantic City on October 29, 2012, its designation by meteorologists and newscasters as a “superstorm” spoke to the devastating power experienced from Maine to Florida and as far inland as the Appalachian Mountains.

This 900-mile-wide force of nature exhibiting the destructive features of hurricanes and post-tropical cyclones killed 147 people nationwide and caused an estimated $70 billion in damages in the United States.

Industry Honors

2024 Waterfront Alliance Hero of the Harbor

2022 Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure Envision Gold Award

2022 Climate Change Business Journal Business Achievement Award

2021 NAEP Environmental Excellence Award for NEPA Planning Integration

2020 ACEC National Honor Award Winner

2020 ACEC New York Engineering Excellence Diamond Award

“Swinging and rolling gates are a critical design element of East Side Coastal Resiliency and allow for waterfront access while giving the city the flexibility to seal off areas before a future coastal storm or flood event.”

Thomas Foley

NYCDDC Commissioner, 2022

“First 16-Ton Movable Flood Gate Installed at East Side Coastal Resiliency”

Johari Pondt of AKRF leads a walking tour of the reconstructed Stuyvesant Cove Park.

Designing for resiliency in America’s largest city

In separate efforts, AKRF led preparation of the NEPA/SEQRA/CEQR Environmental Impact Statement and the preliminary and final engineering design team in joint venture. We also led Uniform Land Use Review Procedure applications for the project.

The project included 159 stakeholder meetings and 28 community workshops or open houses in addition to public hearings for the EIS.

Major construction on ESCR commenced in 2021 and we are presently providing construction-phase services for the entire project and leading the design of a new shared-use flyover bridge.

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Sound studies for the East River Park amphitheater

AKRF performed neighborhood noise impact modeling and provided acoustical design services for the new East River Park amphitheater being constructed as part of ESCR. We helped the architectural team design a structure that will direct sound toward the seating and landscape; this will improve the sound quality for small, unamplified events while mitigating sound projections toward the upland neighborhood

Receiving industry recognition and certifications

ESCR has been celebrated widely by professional associations and industry organizations, including the Climate Change Business Journal, National Association of Environmental Professionals, and American Council of Engineering Companies.

The project received an Envision Gold Award for sustainability from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure and the rigorous WEDG® (Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines) Verification from The Waterfront Alliance.

“WEDG Verification of East Side Coastal Resiliency Project Will Protect 110,000 People”