In 1990 hanrahan Meyers architects (hMa) were hired by Battery Park City Authority to design a new concept about urban space in New York City. Hired as Master Plan Architects for the Battery Park City North Neighborhood, hMa were asked to develop new spatial paradigms for urban place-making, applying the latest ideas about green and sustainable design technologies, and Green Urbanist ideas (Green Urbanism/ Ecological Urbanism).
In 2005, hMa was hired to design the last building in the North Neighborhood, a new community center,and hMa responded by designing DWiP: Digital Water i-Pavilion. DWiP is hMa's first digitally activated building. DWiP is a 65,000 square foot community center that will include pools, gymnasium, and dance studios, as well as classrooms. A primary feature of the building is its Green Roof, a 1/2 acre space, accessed from BPC's North End Avenue to the west, from Warren Street from the north, and Murray Street from the south, and along the Ballfield Walkway, from the east. DWiP's roof is a permeable plaza with planted areas, park benches, and play areas. DWiP's roof, Battey Park City's newest Park, is shown below:
DWiP's Green Roof Entry at North End Avenue, entry from the west. post: Victoria Meyers architect
DWiP's Green Roof at North End Avenue: Planting detail. Post Victoria Meyers architect
hMa started their design for Battery Park City's North Neighborhood Parks and Landscapes designs with a Master Plan diagram, shown below. The BPC Parks Diagram establishes a methodology for the designs of all of the Green Areas in Battery Park City's North Neighborhood.
Battery Park City North Neighborhood Master Plan Diagram for Green Areas. Post: Victoria Meyers architect
DWiP's Green Roof includes four granite staircases, and four handicapped ramps, that reach out into the Ballfields and the adjacent streets (Murray and Warren Streets and North End Avenue) to create connectivity between DWiP's Green Roof, and the adjacent Parks and Green Streets.
DWiP: Granite Stair connecting DWiP's Green Roof to the Ballfields Walkway below. Post: Victoria Meyers architect
DWiP: Granite Stair with adjacent Granite Wall, and Planted area with Trellis, connecting DWiP Green Roof to Warren Street. SCAPE Landscape Architects. Post Victoria Meyers architect
