The Dryline

Urban flood protection infrastructure

The Dryline

Urban flood protection infrastructure

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    The Dryline in New York City, USA

    BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group (Copenhagen/New York) and One Architecture (Amsterdam), in collaboration with the City of New York, propose a protective ribbon in Southern Manhattan using a series of raised berms and other measures to create public spaces along the water’s edge, forming a large-scale integrated flood protection system.

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    The Dryline: Global Holcim Awards Bronze 2015 – Project Overview

    A project that addresses New York City’s vulnerability to coastal flooding with a protective ribbon in Southern Manhattan won the global Bronze prize of the LafargeHolcim Awards 2015, the most significant international competition for sustainable design and construction.

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    The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure in New York City, USA - Project Update - July 2023

    New planting and seating areas, new paths, and railings as well as a new floodwall and flood gates are part of the new Stuyvesant Cove Park. Image: courtesy NYC Department of Design & Construction.

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    Global Bronze Awards 2015 prize ceremony – The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York City, USA

    Winners of the Global Bronze prize of the Holcim Awards: a consortium led by BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group (Copenhagen/New York) and One Architecture (Amsterdam) together with representatives of Holcim, and the Global Awards jury. The Dryline project addresses New York City’s vulnerability to coastal flooding with a protective ribbon in Southern Manhattan.

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    Global Bronze Awards 2015 prize ceremony – The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York City, USA

    Presentation to the winning team from The Dryline (l-r): Daniel Zarrilli, Director at the Mayor’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency; Stephen Whitehouse, Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners; Bjarke Ingels and Jeremy Siegel, BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, NY, USA

    View of BIG U from The Battery in the financial district. Berms are strategically located to protect the infrastructure below and create a protective upland landscape. The plan envisions a new maritime/environmental education facility. Flood protection in this zone protects USD 1.9 billion in potential damages (NPV), including infrastructure beneath. The system has a benefit-cost ratio greater than 5.0.

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    Global finalist entry 2015 - The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure

    The undulating berm in East River Park will rise 15 feet to provide flood protection and connect coast and community. It will support diverse new plantings, provide enhanced prospects on the park, and create social spaces. Existing sports fields will be maintained. Wide landscaped bridges will connect the East River Park to the community.

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    Global finalist entry 2015 - The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure

    Reprogramming: Dark spaces below highways are turned into urban community areas.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, NY, USA

    How can the mandate of large-scale protective infrastructure with meaningful community engagement be obtained? How can the requirements of a “Robert Moses” hard infrastructure combined with the local community-driven sensitivity of Jane Jacobs be manifest? BIG U contains a protective ribbon: 21 km (13 mi) of flood protection tailored to each neighborhood and the community it serves.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, NY, USA

    The three components the make up BIG U: BIG Bench, Battery, and Berm.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, NY, USA

    BIG Bench flood protection is designed as if it were street furniture: attractive, fun, practical.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, NY, USA

    Flip-down flood gates double as an art installation or enclosure for a winter market.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, NY, USA

    Dark parking lots beneath highways become an urban marketplace.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, NY, USA

    The Berm increases much-needed park space and connectivity; the highways now hinder pedestrian access.

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    Holcim Awards North America ceremony, Toronto, Canada

    Presenting the Holcim Awards Silver (l-r): Enrique Norten, Member of the Board of the Holcim Foundation and Principal & Founder of TEN Arquitectos; Kai-Uwe Bergmann – BIG Bjarke Ingels Group, New York and Matthijs Bouw - One Architecture, Amsterdam – members of the consortium winning Holcim Awards Silver for “Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure”; Alain Bourguignon, Holcim Area Manager for North America and the United Kingdom; and jury member Mark Jarzombek, Associate Dean, School of Architecture & Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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    Holcim Awards North America ceremony, Toronto, Canada

    Winners of the Holcim Awards (l-r): David Benjamin, The Living, New York – winner of Holcim Awards Bronze for “Hy-Fi: Zero carbon emissions compostable structure”; Caitlin Taylor and Amy Mielke, Water Pore Partnership, New York – winners of Holcim Awards Gold for “Poreform: Water absorptive surface and subterranean basin”; and Kai-Uwe Bergmann – BIG Bjarke Ingels Group, New York and Matthijs Bouw - One Architecture, Amsterdam – members of the consortium winning Holcim Awards Silver for “Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure”.

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    Bjarke_Ingels.jpg

    Bjarke Ingles is Founding Partner of BIG, Bjarke Ingels Group based in Copenhagen, Denmark and winner of the Global Holcim Awards Bronze 2015.

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    Feature interview – The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York City, USA

    “At one time, Central Park was also just an idea” – Kai-Uwe Bergmann, Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), USA

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    Holcim Awards North America media briefing, Toronto, Canada

    Winners of the Holcim Awards Silver (l-r): Kai-Uwe Bergmann – BIG Bjarke Ingels Group, New York and Matthijs Bouw - One Architecture, New York – members of the consortium winning Holcim Awards Silver for “Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York”.

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    “Sustainability? Social solutions for generations to come” – Kai-Uwe Bergmann

    Kai-Uwe Bergmann from Bjarke Ingels Group – BIG proposes a large-scale flood protection system by means of a set of small-scale interventions. “Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, USA” won the Holcim Awards Silver for civic infrastructure that responds to climate change and rising global sea levels.

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    “Sustainability? Bringing all the benefits together” – Matthijs Bouw

    Matthijs Bouw from One Architecture sees the potential for social and economic benefits in the flood protection infrastructure. “Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, USA” won the Holcim Awards Silver for its innovative hard infrastructure with local community-driven sensitivity.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, NY, USA

    The international team.

  • Awards Bronze 2014–2015 Global
  • Awards Silver 2014–2015 North America

By Daniel Kidd, Kai-Uwe Bergmann , Jeremy Siegel, Thomas Christoffersen - BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group (New York), New York, NY, USA; Stephen Whitehouse, Melon Wedick, Laura Starr, Andrea Parker - Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners, New York, NY, USA; Daniel Payne - AEA Consulting, Beacon, NY, USA; Christina Kaunzinger - Green Shield Ecology, Bridgewater, NJ, USA; Byron Stigge - Level Agency for Infrastructure, New York, NY, USA; Matthijs Bouw - One Architecture, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Prem Krishnamurthy - Project Projects, New York, NY, USA; Ivo de Jeu; Bjarke Ingels - BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group, Copenhagen, Denmark; James Lima - James Lima Planning + Development, New York, NY, USA; Edgar J. Westerhof - ARCADIS, USA; Steven Baumgartner - Buro Happold Engineering, New York City, USA

Ideas: Economic & Social Empowerment, Urban Requalification

The Dryline (BIG U) addresses New York City’s vulnerability to coastal flooding with a protective ribbon in Southern Manhattan. The 12 km-long infrastructural barrier incorporates public space with the high-water barrier doubling as parks, seating, bicycle shelters or skateboard ramps.

Embankments add green areas and spaces beneath elevated roadways are built out with pavilions for public use. In an emergency, the shutters close forming a floodwater barrier.

The Dryline

Project authors

  • Daniel Kidd

    BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group (New York)

  • Stephen Whitehouse

    Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners

  • DP
    Daniel Payne

    AEA Consulting

  • Melon Wedick

    Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners

  • Kai-Uwe Bergmann

    BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group (New York)

    Denmark
  • Winner of "Rebuild by Design Urban flood protection infrastructure, NewYork, USA"
    Christina Kaunzinger

    Green Shield Ecology

  • Byron Stigge

    Level Agency for Infrastructure

  • Jeremy Siegel

    BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group (New York)

  • Thomas Christoffersen

    BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group (New York)

  • Holcim Awards North America ceremony, Toronto, Canada
    Matthijs Bouw

    One Architecture

  • Prem Krishnamurthy

    Project Projects

  • Laura Starr

    Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners

  • Ivo de Jeu

  • Andrea Parker

    Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners

  • Bjarke Ingels

    BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group

    Denmark
  • James Lima

    James Lima Planning + Development

  • Edgar J. Westerhof

    ARCADIS

    USA

  • Steven Baumgartner

    Buro Happold Engineering

An ingenious solution in an age marked by climate change and rising global sea levels. Holcim Awards 2014 jury for North America

The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure in New York City, USA - Project Update - July 2023

A coastal protection barrier in the form of a huge city park is being designed by internationally renowned architecture firm, Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and partners.

Superstorm Sandy overwhelmed New York City and surrounding regions in 2012 and caused USD 65 billion in damages in the USA. The federal government issued Rebuild by Design, an unprecedented call to action to not only repair but to enhance preventative measures and encourage collaboration across agencies.

The Dryline mediates between perceived opposing forces (growing cities and exposure to extreme weather) so they can work together. Neighborhoods in the floodplain can strategically grow to provide coastal protection while improving commercial, recreational, and cultural resources. The project proposes a protective ribbon around Manhattan: the Westside down to The Battery and up the Lower East Side (LES).

The Dryline – BIG’s vision for New York City

The Holcim Awards Silver 2014 winning project for North America addresses the vulnerability of New York City to coastal flooding and proposes a protective ribbon around lower Manhattan. Designed by a consortium led Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), a project film to document the vision co-developed with the people of New York City was launched at an exhibition of BIG’s work at the National Building Museum.

The Dryline bundles infrastructure with localized civic needs, improving at-risk waterfront communities for well-balanced living. It comprises multiple design opportunities; each on unique scales of time, size, and investment; each neighborhood tailoring its own set of programs.

The Dryline of three components: BIG Bench; Battery; and Berm. BIG Bench is a continuous protective element adapted to local context that mediates new and existing infrastructure. It is designed like street furniture: practical yet playful. The Battery features protective landscape anchored by an iconic museum. The Berm rises 4 meters by the highways allowing a park-scape to connect coast and community with harbor paths and greenways. Ultimately, The Berm will cap the highway.

The Dryline project was submitted in the Holcim Awards 2014 under the title BIG U.

Project Status: Stage One Completed – Mid-2023

Project updates

July 21, 2023 | Project Update | New York, NY, USA

First phase of Manhattan’s climate resiliency project opens

Stage one of the Holcim Awards winning urban flood protection infrastructure project completed in New York City. Phase one of the project, the northern section of Stuyvesant Cove Park, was officially opened on May 31, 2023. The park includes 75 newly planted trees, 579 shrubs, and 360m of seating areas and enhanced solar-powered lighting. The rest of the park, from East 18th Street to East 20th Street, will open in mid-2023.

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November 09, 2018 | Symposium Report | Hannover, Germany

Architecture is a bridge between reality and aspirations

Holcim Awards winner Kai-Uwe Bergmann at the Holcim Bau-Forum in Germany

“The Holcim Awards was the most important recognition we received,” said Kai-Uwe Bergmann, Partner architect at BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group. He presented the Holcim Awards prize-winning The Dryline at the 12th Holcim Bau-Forum in Hannover, Germany. The event brought together builders, architects, planners, and authorities for an inspiring exchange on the future of building and construction. Kai-Uwe Bergmann presented a range of projects and diverse topics including climate change, resource conservation, labor, and digitization.

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January 11, 2017 | “Target Issues” – People | Zurich, Switzerland

How community consultation contributes to sustainability

Focusing on “people-centered performance” is important for increasing sustainability of the built environment. One of the five “target issues” created by the Holcim Foundation is “PEOPLE”. The human factor of sustainability is supported by projects that reflect a sensitive understanding of their unique social and political contexts and generate long-lasting positive impacts on the local community. The Dryline enabled the active participation of stakeholders in the design and implementation phases of a project.

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May 04, 2016 | Project Update | New York, NY, USA

Mayor adds USD 170 million for funding infrastructure project

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced USD 170 million has been allocated from the 2017 city budget for the climate resiliency plan of New York City. The funding will be used for the construction of stormwater management infrastructure. The East Side Coastal Resiliency Project (The Dryline) will create flood protection infrastructure spanning from Montgomery Street to East 23rd Street. Construction is set to start in 2017 on the project, which has received USD 335 million from the US Federal Government.

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February 02, 2016 | Project Update | New York, NY, USA

The Dryline secures USD 176 million and is set to start in 2017

Project update February 2016 – The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, USA

New York City’s flood resiliency project has received USD 176 million in funding as part of the USD 1 billion National Disaster Resilience Competition (NDRC) run by the US Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). The funding was awarded for a 9km (5.5mi) section of the flood-protection project that will start construction in 2017. The Dryline extends from Montgomery Street at the East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) project south around the Battery and extending up to include Battery Park City.

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September 24, 2015 | Global Bronze Prize Ceremony | New York, NY, USA

Responding to climate change with creative urban infrastructure

Global Bronze Awards 2015 prize ceremony – The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York City, USA

The Dryline was presented with the Global Holcim Awards Bronze prize at a ceremony in New York City. Daniel Zarrilli, Director at the Mayor’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency, commended the project for the urban design of an important resiliency priority that will enable New York City to withstand and emerge stronger from the impacts of climate change. The 13km (8mi) long infrastructural barrier incorporates public space with the high-water barrier doubling as parks, seating, bicycle shelters and skateboard ramps.

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June 29, 2015 | Feature Interview | New York, NY, USA

“Reclaiming the waterfront” – Matthias Bouw

“Sustainability? Bringing all the benefits together” – Matthijs Bouw

Matthijs Bouw from One Architecture in Amsterdam is part of the project team: “We not only looked at the water situation, we also asked ourselves: What else do the people of Manhattan need? Can we combine our water management measures with solutions to other problems?” In this interview for the 4th Holcim Awards book, he explains how a series of interventions were planned in conjunction with the city and the community, always tailored to the local needs and physical circumstances.

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April 20, 2015 | Media Release | Zurich, Switzerland

Global Holcim Awards Bronze: The “Dryline” protection and additional public amenities

Project entry 2014 North America – Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, NY, USA

A large-scale integrated flood protection system to address the vulnerability of New York City to coastal flooding won the Global Holcim Awards Bronze. The “Dryline” project by a consortium headed by BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group (Copenhagen/New York), and One Architecture (Amsterdam) in collaboration with the City of New York, proposes a protective ribbon in Southern Manhattan using a series of raised berms and other measures to create public spaces along the water’s edge. The infrastructural barrier incorporates a range of neighborhood functions that foster local commercial, recreational, and cultural activities.

Read full article
April 20, 2015 | Global Jury Report | Zurich, Switzerland

“Offering surplus value to society by turning a problem into an opportunity” – Global Holcim Awards Jury

The Dryline makes a political statement by means of an architectural and urban proposition, arguing that climate change indeed can no longer be suppressed or discarded as a figment of environmentalist imagination and that tangible solutions truly exist. Moreover, the jury considered the project’s potential as model to be applied in other contexts, with the case of New York understood as a prototype from which to learn to pursue similar strategies in susceptible regions around the globe, including, most importantly, regions with limited economic resources.

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March 05, 2015 | Global Finalist Entry | New York, NY, USA

Global Holcim Awards Submission - The Dryline

Global finalist entry 2015 - The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure

As one of the three main Holcim Awards winners for North America in 2014, The Dryline automatically qualified as a finalist in the Global Holcim Awards 2015. All 15 finalist project teams were asked to submit an updated and more comprehensive entry that was evaluated by a global jury in March 2015. View the project entry posters by clicking on the link below.

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February 06, 2015 | Project Update | Washington, DC, USA

An Odyssey of Architectural Adaptation

“Hot to Cold” exhibits the work of Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), National Building Museum, Washington, DC, USA

The BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group exhibition “Hot to Cold: an odyssey of architectural adaptation” at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC will run until August 30, 2015. The exhibition includes the Holcim Awards winning “The Dryline” project and provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the creative processes used by the firm. “Hot to Cold” takes visitors from the hottest to the coldest parts of our planet while exploring how design solutions are shaped by their cultural and climatic contexts.

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January 21, 2015 | Project Update | New York, NY, USA

Initial funding and further awards for BIG-U (The Dryline) project

Project entry 2014 North America – Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, NY, USA

The Dryline (BIG-U) project to address New York City’s vulnerability to coastal flooding continues to gather support by constructing a protective ribbon in Southern Manhattan. The urban flood protection infrastructure project won the 2015 AIA Institute Honor Awards for Regional & Urban Design after receiving the Community Development Award in October 2014. The project also received USD 335 million in funding by the US Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) in June 2014.

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September 18, 2014 | Winners for North America Announced | Toronto, Canada

Protective ribbon: Silver for urban flood-protection infrastructure

Holcim Awards North America ceremony, Toronto, Canada

The Rebuild by Design project that addresses New York City’s vulnerability to coastal flooding by using a raised berm and sequence of public spaces along the water’s edge won the Holcim Awards Silver. The 13km (8 mi) long infrastructural barrier to mitigate the impact of future storms with the devastating force of Hurricane Sandy was designed by a consortium led by architects Bjarke Ingels and Kai-Uwe Bergmann of BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group (Denmark/USA). The jury acknowledged the project’s sensitive blend of hard infrastructure and local community needs.

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June 29, 2014 | Regional Jury Report – North America | Cambridge, MA, USA

“An ingenious solution in an age marked by climate change and rising global sea levels” – Holcim Awards Jury

Project entry 2014 North America – Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, NY, USA

To propose a large-scale flood protection system by means of a set of small-scale interventions was viewed by the jury as an ingenious solution that could easily be transferred to other similar conditions – in an age marked by climate change and rising global sea levels. The panel appreciates the project’s conceptual framework proposing to merge the requirements of a “Robert Moses” type of hard infrastructure with the local community-driven sensitivity of “Jane Jacobs”.

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March 30, 2014 | New York, NY, USA

Project Entry 2014 North America - Rebuilding by Design

Project entry 2014 North America – Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, NY, USA

The BIG U (The Dryline) project addresses the vulnerability of the city of New York to coastal flooding, as experienced during the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, and proposes a protective ribbon around lower Manhattan. The master plan, to be executed in several phases, uses a raised berm strategically to create a sequence of public spaces along the water’s edge along the raised bank. The infrastructural barrier incorporates a range of neighborhood functions and as a result offers multiple design opportunities, fostering local commercial, recreational, and cultural activities.

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Related information

Related Information

Location

pin New York, NY, USA

New York, NY, USA

News

Podcast

How form-making will unlock the power of architecture - Bjarke Ingels

Copenhagen, Denmark

Project Update

First phase of Manhattan’s climate resiliency project opens

New York City, USA

Holcim Awards winner Kai-Uwe Bergmann at the Holcim Bau-Forum in Germany

Symposium Report

Architecture is a bridge between reality and aspirations

Hannover, Germany

“Target Issues” – People

Speaking from experience

Zurich, Switzerland

Project Update

New York Mayor adds to Dryline with USD 170 million infrastructure funding

New York, NY, USA

Project update February 2016 – The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, USA

Project Update

Dryline secures USD 176 million in Federal funding and starts construction in 2017

New York, NY, USA

Global Bronze Awards 2015 prize ceremony – The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York City, USA

Global Bronze Prize Ceremony

Responding to climate change with creative urban infrastructure

New York, NY, USA

Global Bronze Awards 2015 prize ceremony – The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York City, USA

Video – Project Author

Bjarke Ingels: “Information driven design”

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Video – Community Engagement

The Dryline – BIG’s vision for New York City

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Feature Interview

“Reclaiming the waterfront”

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Global Holcim Awards 2015

Media release

Sustainable design improving communities

Zurich, Switzerland

Media Responses

Zurich, Switzerland

GLOBAL JURY REPORT

Zurich, Switzerland

Exhibition

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Global finalist entry 2015 - The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure

Global finalist entry

New York, NY, USA

Project update

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Global Gold Awards 2015 prize handover – Articulated Site: Water reservoirs as public park, Medellín, Colombia

4th Holcim Awards Competition

Global Holcim Awards winners announced April 20

Zurich, Switzerland

Project entry 2014 North America – Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, NY, USA

Project update

Initial funding and further awards for BIG-U project

New York, NY, USA

4th Holcim Awards Competition

Zurich, Switzerland

Video – Project Author

“Sustainability? Bringing all the benefits together” – Matthijs Bouw

Toronto, ON, Canada

“Sustainability? Social solutions for generations to come” – Kai-Uwe Bergmann

Video – Project Author

“Sustainability? Social solutions for generations to come” – Kai-Uwe Bergmann

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Video – Project Overview

Rebuild by Design

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Holcim Awards North America ceremony, Toronto, Canada

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Project entry 2014 North America – Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, NY, USA

Regional Jury Report – North America

“An ingenious solution in an age marked by climate change and rising global sea levels” – Holcim Awards Jury

Cambridge, MA, USA

Project entry 2014 North America – Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, NY, USA

Project Entry & Details

New York, NY, USA

Videos

Bjarke Ingels: “Information driven design”

The founder of BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group explains how the design work of his office is driven by information. The Dryline project to implement creative urban infrastructure that protects Manhattan from floods was created from the specific knowledge of external specialists, as well as the local community. “Our role is to take these inputs and synthesis a design solution that is informed by this wealth of knowledge,” explains BIG founder Bjarke Ingels at the Global Awards Bronze 2015 prize ceremony in New York.

Bjarke Ingels: “Information driven design”

The founder of BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group explains how the design work of his office is driven by information. The Dryline project to implement creative urban infrastructure that protects Manhattan from floods was created from the specific knowledge of external specialists, as well as the local community. “Our role is to take these inputs and synthesis a design solution that is informed by this wealth of knowledge,” explains BIG founder Bjarke Ingels at the Global Awards Bronze 2015 prize ceremony in New York.

The Dryline: Global Holcim Awards Bronze 2015 – Project Overview

A project that addresses New York City’s vulnerability to coastal flooding with a protective ribbon in Southern Manhattan won the global Bronze prize of the LafargeHolcim Awards 2015, the most significant international competition for sustainable design and construction.

The Dryline: Global Holcim Awards Bronze 2015 – Project Overview

A project that addresses New York City’s vulnerability to coastal flooding with a protective ribbon in Southern Manhattan won the global Bronze prize of the LafargeHolcim Awards 2015, the most significant international competition for sustainable design and construction.

“A halo of light and life that protects the city” – Meisa Batayneh Maani

Global Holcim Awards jury member Meisa Batayneh Maani notes the daring and visionary nature of the Bronze-winning project “The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure” in New York City. She praised the team led by BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group (Denmark/USA) for envisaging a “halo” of light and life that will protect the island of Manhattan from floods by embracing the opportunities that resilient infrastructure presents.

“A halo of light and life that protects the city” – Meisa Batayneh Maani

Global Holcim Awards jury member Meisa Batayneh Maani notes the daring and visionary nature of the Bronze-winning project “The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure” in New York City. She praised the team led by BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group (Denmark/USA) for envisaging a “halo” of light and life that will protect the island of Manhattan from floods by embracing the opportunities that resilient infrastructure presents.

“Dryline” protection and additional public amenities – Global Holcim Awards 2015 jury

Jury members, Mohsen Mostafavi (head of jury) and Meisa Batayneh Maani discuss elements of the large-scale flood protection system which addresses the vulnerability of New York City to coastal flooding. “The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure” by BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group (Copenhagen/New York) won the Global Holcim Awards Bronze 2015.

“Dryline” protection and additional public amenities – Global Holcim Awards 2015 jury

Jury members, Mohsen Mostafavi (head of jury) and Meisa Batayneh Maani discuss elements of the large-scale flood protection system which addresses the vulnerability of New York City to coastal flooding. “The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure” by BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group (Copenhagen/New York) won the Global Holcim Awards Bronze 2015.

The Dryline – BIG’s vision for New York City

The Holcim Awards Silver 2014 winning project for North America addresses the vulnerability of New York City to coastal flooding and proposes a protective ribbon around lower Manhattan. Designed by a consortium led Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), a project film to document the vision co-developed with the people of New York City was launched at an exhibition of BIG’s work at the National Building Museum.

The Dryline – BIG’s vision for New York City

The Holcim Awards Silver 2014 winning project for North America addresses the vulnerability of New York City to coastal flooding and proposes a protective ribbon around lower Manhattan. Designed by a consortium led Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), a project film to document the vision co-developed with the people of New York City was launched at an exhibition of BIG’s work at the National Building Museum.