New York architecture studio Thomas Phifer and Partners has completed a striking red concrete pavilion for Wagner Park in Lower Manhattan, a newly developed waterfront space designed by infrastructure firm AECOM with enhanced flood resilience capabilities. The Wagner Pavilion serves as a focal point for the park, which represents part of the larger South Battery Park City Resiliency Project aimed at protecting the flood-prone southern tip of Manhattan.
The pavilion, positioned at one of the highest points in Wagner Park, features a distinctive design with two wings that resemble a pair of lungs when viewed from above. The wings extend outward from a central entry point, creating what the design team describes as a "gateway" effect to the park. This architectural approach is enhanced by tremendous vaults that line the wings on the park-facing side, creating dramatic interior spaces.
Inside the pavilion, visitors will find a restaurant and educational classrooms, while the structure's rooftop garden offers carefully designed vantage points with panoramic views across New York Harbor to the Statue of Liberty. The rooftop space includes parapet planters that help increase the building's visual profile and contribute to its sustainability features.
"We are extremely proud to have contributed to the design of this important urban waterfront park, reimagined with sustainability and resiliency at the heart of our design vision," said studio founder Thomas Phifer. "The Wagner Pavilion is a focal point, offering expansive views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and New York Harbor, while also hosting community activities and providing dining opportunities."
While the pavilion serves as a visible symbol of the park's transformation, the most significant changes lie in the extensive engineering work performed to make the shoreline more resilient to flooding. The entire park integrates various flood walls and advanced drainage systems throughout its design. A massive floodwall, driven deep into the bedrock, follows the natural slope of the site where the esplanade transitions into the landscaped park areas.
AECOM's landscape design incorporates different plant species at various elevations throughout the park, including a terraced "living shoreline" at one end that promotes marine life where the public space meets the water. The stepped park design creates multiple levels that work together to manage flood waters while providing diverse recreational spaces for the community.
"At Wagner Park, we integrated infrastructure and placemaking to create a public space that serves the community and protects against rising sea levels," said AECOM principal Gonzalo Cruz. "From its flexible open lawn to its universally accessible gardens, this park reflects the power of collaboration in creating a landscape that responds to changes in climate, invites gathering and supports daily life for the next generation."
The Wagner Park project represents one of many flood resilience initiatives being implemented in coastal cities worldwide as sea levels continue to rise due to global climate change. Similar projects include a flood-resilient park in Copenhagen designed by landscape architect Schønherr and a nature park with integrated flood-defense systems created by CF Møller.
The project involved extensive collaboration between multiple firms and specialists. The comprehensive team included AECOM for landscape architecture and urban design, Thomas Phifer and Partners for architectural design, Site Works as landscape architect of record, and AECOM Engineering for both structural and marine structural engineering. Additional contributors included Magnusson Klemencic Associates for civil engineering, LiRo-Hill as construction manager, and separate general contractors for the park and pavilion components. The project also incorporated expertise from specialists in MEP engineering, lighting design, sustainability certification, and community engagement, demonstrating the complex coordination required for such a multifaceted resilience project.
