Serious flood protection. A waterfront people still love.

The North/West Battery Park City Resiliency Project integrates approximately 1.5 miles of flood protection into one of New York City’s most cherished waterfront neighborhoods. Delivered through Progressive Design-Build by the Turner SPC joint venture, the project brings together coastal infrastructure, public space, and the everyday life of Battery Park City.

At BIG, Rachel led the landscape and urban design scope for Reaches 1, 2, 5, and 6, including floodwall design and its integration into the surrounding landscape. Working with collaborators including Arcadis, SCAPE, and One Architecture, the team explored how protective infrastructure could become part of the neighborhood’s parks, promenades, and gathering places.

The work demanded deep technical coordination with resiliency engineers and the contractor, alongside close engagement with BPCA and stakeholders committed to preserving the neighborhood’s character. An extensive public engagement process brought residents and community groups into the conversation through public meetings, neighborhood briefings, and ongoing dialogue with the project team. From broad landscape strategies to the details of how a wall meets the ground, design ambition and construction realities informed one another.

The ambition: flood infrastructure that protects the city and earns its place in it.