AMSTERDAM S PARK OVER THE RIVER HOW THE MOHAWK VALLEY GATEWAY OVERLOOK RECONNECTED A CITY

Transcription

1 AMSTERDAM S PARK OVER THE RIVER HOW THE MOHAWK VALLEY GATEWAY OVERLOOK RECONNECTED A CITY

2 Presentation Overview Background Design Process and Goals Concepts Design Development Public Participation Process Construction Finished Product Project Impact Lessons Learned

3 Background

4 Project Team Engineer of Record Ammann & Whitney Project Designer, Landscape Architecture, Architecture Saratoga Associates Civil Engineer MJ Engineering & Surveyors Environmental Engineering Louis Berger Electrical Engineering Maita Associates Geotechnical Engineering GZA GeoEnvironmental Contractor Kubricky Construction Corporation Sub Contractor DA Collins

5 Pedestrian Bridges Can Be Many Things Conveyance A gathering place for the community An economic catalyst by increasing tourism An iconic piece of architecture and engineering for an entire region A place to learn An eyesore

6

7 9 NEW MULTI MODAL STATION MOHAWK VALLEY GATEWAY OVERLOOK PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE 30 RIVERLINK PARK BRIDGE STREET

8 Design Process and Goals

9 Case Studies Inspiration - More Than a Bridge High Line New York, NY Walkway Over The Hudson Poughkeepsie, NY Bridge of Flowers Shelburn Falls, MA

10 Common Design Themes

11 Events Program and Function More than a bridge

12 Concepts

13 Efficiency of material Graceful presence Longer span Suspension Option A

14 Suspension Option B

15 Cable Stay Option C Asymmetrical Design Efficiency in materials Long Span opens navigation clearance

16 Original Design Inspiration Original Design Original Design in New Base Model New Base Model

17 Design Development

18 Alternative 1: Traditional Cable Stay

19 Alternate 1- Perspective Overview

20 Alternative 2: Park Over the River - Straight

21 Alternate 2- Perspective Overview

22 Alternative 3: Park Over the River Curved

23 Alternate 3- Perspective Overview

24 Public Participation Process

25 Where We Were

26 Public Participation Process

27 Public Participation Process Iterative and Interactive All through design process Communicated on multiple platforms Drove selection of final design Major factor in early success of bridge

28 Where We Finished Chalmer s Site Mohawk River North Shore Parking Picnic Shelter South Shore

29 Where We Finished

30 Design Elements Overall Systems Plant Materials Planter Walls Guard Rails Paving Interpretive Elements Architecture Retaining Walls Lighting Site Fixtures Bridge Piers

31 Construction

32

33

34

35

36

37

38 Construction Details 3 Span structure Steel plate girders 135; 235; &141 Feet 511ft long x 30ft wide Prefabricated Bridge 700 cubic yards of concrete 17,000 bolts used Construction from Fall 2014 to Spring 2016

39 Finished Product

40 Birds Eye View East Since its grand opening in the Fall of 2016, the MVGO has already become a center of community activity.

41 Close up View West A variety of interpretive elements highlight the history and culture of the City and its relationship to the Mohawk.

42 Infusing New Life The unique Park over the River theme for the pedestrian bridge extends a greenway across the Mohawk, including extensive landscape planting, viewing areas, and gathering spaces for large functions.

43 Connection Reconnecting the City of Amsterdam s north and south side neighborhoods which were divided long ago by a utilitarian and pedestrian unfriendly arterial bridge.

44 Compass A large compass was added to the design elements to remind the city of its multifaceted history and future

45 View From the Water The 30 foot wide bridge spans 511 feet over the Mohawk River and connects Riverlink Park on the north shore of the river and Bridge Street on the south shore.

46 Stone Retaining Wall Serves as a reminder of the industrial past of the river and its use in running mills and powering commerce.

47 Vegetation Brightly colored flowers were placed to bring a sense of vibrancy, life, and beauty to the walkway.

48 Interpretive Signs Decorative plaques tell a more detailed story of Amsterdam s History.

49 View from the Bridge Groundwork The bridge s Hudson Valley design vocabulary incorporates interpretive architectural and landscape architectural elements to celebrate the story of Amsterdam.

50 Culture The entire length of the bridge provides information on the history and importance of the region and the waterway.

51 Community The Amsterdam high school marching band on the MVGO.

52 Community Members of the Amsterdam community enjoy the newly opened greenway.

53 Autumn View A view of the greenway in early Autumn.

54 Wheel of Life

55 Wheel of Life

56 Wheel of Life

57 Sculptures

58 Aerial View

59 Project Impact

60

61

62

63

64 MVGO Reconnecting a City Design and Planning Awards ENR Bridge of the Year Award CDC NYSSPE Project of the Year Award ASLA Upstate Planning Award Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce Tourism Partner Award to City of Amsterdam Parks and Recreation Department for their programming of MVGO and adjacent parks

65 MVGO Effective Programming Effective Programming by City has included: Italia Fest - ~10,000 attended Oktoberfest ~10,000 Riverfest ~5,000 Trick-or-Treating on the MVGO - ~3,000 Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony and Santa s arrival - ~2,000 Homecoming Pep Rally - ~1,000 Regular Sunset Festivals, Walking programs, yoga classes and kayak tours - ~5,000 Unstructured usage - ~500/day

66 MVGO Economic Impact Cost of Construction - $18.5M Annual Attendance Needed to Cover Maintenance Costs 30,000 ($2M in Direct Economic Impact) 2017 Estimated Attendance 180,00 ($12M in Direct Economic Impact) Est. $100k increase in tax revenues for City in first year

67 MVGO Results After One Year Number of visitors 6X greater than projected Real estate values increasing in vicinity of bridge City of Amsterdam has programmed activities at bridge all year long Has spurred additional events in connected parks and neighborhoods Has spawned new businesses and construction including new restaurants, a mixed use/banquet facility, and a kayak rental store

68 Thank You Daniel Shearer, PE, LEED AP President & CEO Saratoga Associates Facebook.com/SaratogaAssociates Youtube.com/user/SaratogaAssociates Twitter.com/SaratogaAssoc Linkedin.com/company/saratoga-associates/