On December 19th, Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Spitzer joined together with Speaker Silver and other elected leaders in announcing the selection of the public leadership and private consultants that will guide the Island's redevelopment over the next few years. An important step forward in the park planning process, the occasion also marked the first time the Governor has publicly indicated his support for the Island and its park land.
The selected design team, led by the Dutch firm West 8 and New York architects Rogers Marvel, was chosen from the five international finalists. The participants were announced in January 2006 and the teams presented their concepts to the public in June. The park design is a critical step in the development of the Island as it is anticipated to drive other Island amenities such as the hotels, schools, conference centers, and cultural attractions. The team will now work with GIPEC on a one - two year process of planning and environmental review, including community input and consultation.
The Mayor and Governor also announced that Avi Shick will succeed Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff as GIPEC's chairman. The leadership of the State-City development corporation is scheduled to rotate every two years, and Mr. Doctoroff's term expired last April. Mr. Shick is the President of the Empire State Development Corporation and Chair of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation. The Deputy Mayor's leadership was instrumental in moving plans for the Island forward. Under his 30 month tenure as chair of the development corporation, GIPEC largely completed the stabilization of the Island historic buildings, and opened up the Island for record public visitation.
West 8 is one of the world's leading landscape and urban design practices. They have designed projects all over the world including the Swiss Expo 2002 Master Plan, and most recently have won the Innovative Design Competition for Toronto's Central Waterfront. Adriaan Geuze, the firm's founder and principal, is one of the foremost landscaape architects in the world. He has directed Dutch and international teams on projects across the globe.
Rogers Marvel Architects, based in New York City, combines inventive materials, spaces, and forms to create memorable and efficient places for people to use. They have extensive experience in academic, institutional, and cultural projects, and they were responsible for the transformation of the "Elevated Acre" at 55 Water Street and the expansion of the Studio Museum in Harlem.
In congratulating GIPEC on their selection, Kenneth K Fisher, the Chair of the Alliance, noted that "A strong public space framework on the Island is an essential step in defining the Island's character and protecting the public interest." The Alliance has long sought to have planning for the Island's 90 acres of parks move forward in advance of development decisions about the Island.
Read the Alliance's press release.
You can see more concept renderings by the winning team at www.park-centeroftheworld.org