Bell & Spina Architects
Utica, NY
EDR provided site planning, site-civil/structural engineering, and landscape architecture design services to support the rehabilitation of the Plaza and East Park associated with the NYSOGS Plaza Roof Deck Waterproofing Replacement Project. Plaza renovations included design of updates and replacement of all decorative elements and site features within the existing plaza roof deck and on existing concrete retaining and planter walls. Improvements included integrally-colored concrete roof deck slab paving, concrete stairs and raised platforms, custom-detailed handrailing, decorative laser-cut metal screen panels, recladding existing planter and seating walls, and replacement of all plantings.
Modular site furnishings, receptacles, and planter selections were designed to be rearranged to encourage and accommodate plaza space use for general daily use by building staff, visitors, and the public, as well as for holiday displays and events, special state and government functions, and public functions or festivals. Exterior plaza lighting was supplemented with pedestrian-scale bollard lighting and decorative screen panels are back-lit; exterior power bollards supply service for special plaza functions and events uses. Modular planter selections, soils, and plantings were designed considering roof deck loading constraints. The East Park renovation includes replacement of the existing 25-year paving and plantings. New concrete pavement matches plaza improvements that included plantings, skateboard deterrents, and repair of existing planter walls and handrails. Replacement plantings feature flowering and low-maintenance trees and shrubs. CU-Structural Soil (Cornell University Structural Soil) was utilized as both subbase material and planting soil for tree plantings in the paved park patio. Sidewalk replacement and green infrastructure improvements, also designed and engineered by EDR, were funded with a grant from the Environmental Facilities Corporation.