June 10th, 2025
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Battery Park City
Gonzalo is the Design Principal for the New York Metro area and leader of our Urbanism + Planning Practice across the Americas and abroad. In recent years, he has been creating innovative work at the intersection of large-scale infrastructure and placemaking, including South Battery Park City Resilience Wagner Park and Pier A Plaza, Brooklyn Montgomery Coastal Resilience Open Space and Hoboken Cove Waterfront Park.
Kimberlae is the Vice President of Planning & Design at the Battery Park City Authority, where she leads capital planning, design, and sustainability initiatives. She manages annual and long-term capital construction programs, oversees architectural and engineering projects, and ensures performance of outside consultants. Her role also includes coordinating design reviews, advancing sustainability efforts, and engaging with community groups and regulatory agencies on planning matters.
Join us for a tour of the South Battery Park City Resiliency Project.
As part of the 3.5-mile Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency plan, the South Battery Park City Resiliency Project is designed to protect Lower Manhattan from sea level rise and storm surge. The $296 million project integrates deployable barriers, flood walls, and drainage systems into a newly elevated and landscaped waterfront. The site will feature a rebuilt Wagner Park Pavilion, a realigned bikeway, new community spaces, and an overwater platform to support marine life on the city’s edge.
Fellows will join Kimberlae Saul and Gonzalo Cruz for an inside look at the project’s design, engineering, and public space improvements.
How can new climate infrastructure support ecosystems and create better places to live?
Guest & Accessibility Policies
Urban Design Forum promotes conversations between invited civic leaders, designers, developers, and advocates. This event is open to Forum Fellows only.
Limited space is available; confirmed Fellows will be assigned to one of two small group tours during the two-hour event window. The meeting location will be shared upon tour confirmation.
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully.
- This event includes a hard-hat tour and construction site and requires walking.
- If you’re not feeling well, please stay home. Face masks are encouraged, particularly if you have been recently exposed to colds, flus, or other illness. If you have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days, a high-quality, well-fitting face covering is required at all times.
- Please refrain from wearing strong fragrances to accommodate guests with allergies or environmental sensitivities.
- If you have additional needs, we will do our best to accommodate. Please contact rsvp@urbandesignforum.org.
Continuing Education
This event has been approved for 1 AIA CES.
About Public Works
Public Works is a discussion series to drive civic dialogue around new and forthcoming built environment projects in New York City. Throughout the year, we invite government officials and private sector leaders to present design and development initiatives that shape the public good. Our goal is to create an open and collegial venue for deeper conversation between the public sector and our network of civic leaders building, caring for, and maintaining our city.
Support Our Work
Public Works is made possible through the support of our Board of Directors, Director’s Circle, Company Members, and our Campaign for Courageous Leadership, and company and individual members. Our programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
To learn more about supporting Public Works, please contact Miranda Bellizia, miranda@urbandesignforum.org.
Photo Credit: Battery Park City Authority
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