Starr Whitehouse unveils Brooklyn-Queens Expressway options

Starr-Whitehouse-BQE-Green-Canopy
Recently Starr Whitehouse unveiled three concepts for a section of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) – a trenched Interstate (I-278)in New York. The concepts where presented to the community, elected City and Congress officials and representatives from DOT and DPR. Starr Whitehouse developed the designs in consultation with the community through workshops and were seen as ‘…an achievable vision for enhancing the pedestrian and cyclist environment above the BQE, adding green components and improving the physical connection and sociability among adjacent neighborhoods’.

‘Maximum Green’ (OPTION 1)
Creates a green streetscape with traffic calming, tree plantings, water sensitive design with the option for green screens/artistic fences. Costed at $USD10.7million
Starr-Whitehouse-BQE-Maximum-Green
Starr-Whitehouse-BQE-Maximum-Green

‘Connections’ (OPTION 2)
Creating “green machine” bridges equipped with greenscreen or acoustic panels, PV, and decorative lighting, with the option of adding treatments from  the ‘Maximum Green’ concept.
Starr-Whitehouse-BQE-Connections
Starr-Whitehouse-BQE-Connections

‘Green Canopy’ (OPTION 3)
The most intriguing option that creates a trellis Structure over the trenched rows  which includes Photo-voltaic panels that generate revenue for the City. Photo-voltaic array could earn the city $USD312,500 per year through energy generation. Costed at $USD82.7million including providing retail space on Union Street bridge.
Starr-Whitehouse-BQE-Green Canopy-Cafe

The project does not yet have funding but the community strongly prioritized the development of achievable goals (5-10 years). Local leaders are committed to working closely with relevant agencies, community members to identify resources to carry out this goal.

DESIGN TEAM

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS & PLANNERS: Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects & Planners
ARCHITECTS: Kiss+Cathcart Architects
TRAFFIC ENGINEERING: Sam Schwartz Engineering
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING: Buro Happold

IMAGE CREDIT: Starr Whitehouse and Kiss+Cathcart Architects

About Damian Holmes 3253 Articles
Damian Holmes is the Founder and Editor of World Landscape Architecture (WLA). He is a registered landscape architect (AILA) working in international design practice in Australia. Damian founded WLA in 2007 to provide a website for landscape architects written by landscape architects. Connect on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/damianholmes/