The contract for design of the Island's park space was approved by GIPEC's board of directors at their June meeting. The landscape architects at West 8--and the many subcontractors--have agreed to produce a master plan by next spring--but look for new trees sooner than that.
The board approved $22.55 million for the master plan and design work, and another $3.9 million for contingencies. Chairman Avi Schick, invoking a little advance discipline, insisted that these be "true contingencies." The contract is with West 8 New York Inc., an American subsidiary created by the Rotterdam firm for this project. Before voting, the board went over a number of questions ranging from West 8's assets to the "green" features of the work to be done and the protection of waterfowl.
Betty Chen, vice president for planning, said GIPEC contractors had
already made 122 borings to detect the ground water level and the
soil's nutrient content, which are two critical concerns for new
plantings. She mentioned that there could be problems when serious
digging begins in the southern half of the island--all landfill from
construction of the Lexington Avenue subway 100 years ago. If there are
hazardous substances, she said, Washington will pay for the clean-up.
More insight into tree plantings came on guided tours that were part of the Alliance benefit on June 17. The guides were the two lead designers--Adriaan Gueze (pronounced AH-dree-un HOY-zuh) of West 8 and Rob Rogers of the New York firm Rogers Marvel. Geuze said, "Look at the trees. I wish we had them everywhere." He indicated that planting would start before the design is finished. "We will prune them high," he said, "like a cathedral."
Surveying the space that is framed by Building 400 and its two arms, he pointed out that it is the size of Bryant Park behind the New York Public Library in Manhattan, and that its season is two months longer than that of the Promenade around the rim of the Island--that is, considerably more hospitable to flowers. He predicted that the park "backbone" will be in place in four-to-five years and pegged the construction time at 15 years.
More insight into tree plantings came on guided tours that were part of the Alliance benefit on June 17. The guides were the two lead designers--Adriaan Gueze (pronounced AH-dree-un HOY-zuh) of West 8 and Rob Rogers of the New York firm Rogers Marvel. Geuze said, "Look at the trees. I wish we had them everywhere." He indicated that planting would start before the design is finished. "We will prune them high," he said, "like a cathedral."
Surveying the space that is framed by Building 400 and its two arms, he pointed out that it is the size of Bryant Park behind the New York Public Library in Manhattan, and that its season is two months longer than that of the Promenade around the rim of the Island--that is, considerably more hospitable to flowers. He predicted that the park "backbone" will be in place in four-to-five years and pegged the construction time at 15 years.