Bronx Borough Jail
In 2017, NYC committed to the closing of Rikers Island with the completion of four, smaller borough-based jails. The new jail system will be founded on the dignity, respect and safety of all who interact with the system and provide an enhancement to the community in which they are located.
QRP was part of the winning team for the design-build of the Bronx Borough Jail, awarded by DDC. QRP is providing landscape architectural design for this $3 billion design-build project, collaborating with a multidisciplinary team of 23 consulting firms, two clients and multiple city agencies.
The transformative landscape design was informed by an intense year-long community engagement process with approvals from the community board and the Public Design Commission. The landscape will provide the means by which the new building can be integrated into the neighborhood providing benefits for not only the building residents, staff, and visitors but the community at large. The design includes streetscape, green roof and security design plus an outdoor horticultural instruction space. The intent of the streetscape design is to create a vibrant and welcoming street level environment to be shared with the community and add to the social fabric of the neighborhood.
The pedestrian-focused streetscape links the Mott Haven residential, commercial and industrial districts and provides access to the adjacent Bruckner Greenway network. Canopy trees, lush plantings, plazas and seating address the extreme Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI) rating in this former amenity dessert. The security design provides complete perimeter protection from vehicular intrusion with a combination of bollards and surveillance cameras. Security features are disguised within the perimeter landscape plantings in order to downplay this defensive landscape. Planters and tiered seating in the outdoor horticultural space encourage gardening and provide flexible space for small group events. Green roof plantings add biodiversity, heat island mitigation and stormwater benefits to the project. The project anticipates a LEED Gold rating.
Location
Bronx, NY
Client
NYC DDC, NYC DOC
Role
Landscape Architect
Team
Urbahn Architects
Cetra Rudy Architects
Spartan Engineering
Hatfield Group
Lakani & Jordan
Loring Consulting Enginers
Matrix New World
Lumen Architecture
