NEW YORK, October 5, 2015 – The Battery Park City Authority today provided details of its plan to rebuild the electrical vaults of the Police Memorial, which will restore the Memorial’s integral water and light features debilitated during the events of Superstorm Sandy. To enhance resiliency ahead of another significant water event, the BPCA recently issued a Request for Proposals for the construction of two above-ground structures to house electrical equipment currently located in subterranean vaults that provide power for the Police Memorial, a portion of the North Cove Marina and an adjacent playground and dog run. The design of these structures will house equipment above the 500 year flood plains. The complex design process, which was recently completed, involved consideration of a number of critical factors, including:
- Reassessment and resizing of necessary electrical equipment according to present-day technological capabilities;
- Proper sizing and elevation of replacement vault structures, taking into account the objective of housing the equipment above the 100- and 500-year flood plains;
- Incorporating appropriate sensitivity to the pedestrian access and design aesthetic considerations relevant to the surrounding public spaces;
- Placement of the vault structures to avoid conflict with ubiquitous underground utilities in the immediate area; and
- Geotechnical analysis of underground conditions to verify appropriate foundation treatment for the vault structures.
The construction and installation process is expected to begin once a contractor is recommended and approved.
“Our mission was to design a resilient solution that will stand up to even greater challenges than faced in the past”, said BPCA President Shari C. Hyman. “This design not only ensures the future of the Memorial – it enhances public access to a sacred site within Battery Park City.”
PBA President Patrick J. Lynch said, “We are gratified and most appreciative of Battery Park City’s comprehensive restoration plans for the Police Memorial. By taking the needed time to develop this design, we can see that the areas surrounding the Memorial will enhance public access to it in a manner that is both respectful and welcoming.”
“As we continue to build a better, stronger New York, we must fully reimagine the State for the realities of extreme weather,” said Interim Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery (GOSR), Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “Through this project, we can restore this poignant and deeply-meaningful memorial to its full and intended function, while taking steps to protect it from the impacts of future storms. With these renovations, the State can ensure that the Police Memorial remains a wonderful tribute to, and a special remembrance for, those who have sacrificed so much.”
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