October 3rd, 2023
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Stuyvesant Cove Park
387 East River Greenway, Bikeway, NY, USA
Travis Bunt is the Principal for ONE Architecture in New York, overseeing all architecture, planning and resiliency for projects in the Americas and Asia. With 17 years of experience, Travis has led several climate-adaptive projects, including the first-of-its-kind East Side Coastal Resiliency intervention in New York; several district-level Climate Ready Boston initiatives; the 100-year strategic planning for Lower Manhattan; and "building with nature" ventures in the Philippines and Indonesia.
Tom Heltzel is an Associate Director for ONE Architecture, where he leads design and integration for climate adaptation infrastructure. Tom brings experience in low-carbon construction, energy and environmental performance, and design communication skills. Current projects include the construction administration of ESCR and BMCR, the design of the East River Park Amphitheater, and the FiDi Seaport Energy and Sustainability Strategy.
Ahmed Ibrahim is a Professional Engineer at the LiRo Group who has worked with NYC DDC on several infrastructure projects and public buildings in all five boroughs for over 25 years. Many of those projects managed by Mr. Ibrahim are high-profile projects such as the reconstruction of Times Square, Pelham Parkway, and currently, the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project Area 2 (ESCR), which he is leading as the Senior Construction Manager. This project led the way as the first flood protection construction project around the borough of Manhattan to ultimately achieve the goal of constructing the big U system around the southern half of Manhattan to prevent damages from floods and protects lives and both public and private assets. He is leading a team of professionals to ensure delivering the project with the highest quality and durability that will serve NYC for many decades to come.
Eric Ilijevich is Deputy Director of the Coastal Resiliency Program at the New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) and has been on the East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) project team since 2015. Eric and his team of engineers coordinate a multitude of operating agencies, stakeholders, grantees and consultants to develop the original goals and intent of all coastal resiliency projects, including BMCR and Red Hook Coastal Resiliency, and to guarantee NYC DDC is delivering a project that serves the community and the greater metropolitan area responsibly.
Johari Pondt is a technical director for civil engineering at AKRF, Inc., and has been a member of the East Side Coastal Resiliency design team since 2016. Johari was a panelist for “Climate Resiliency in New York City” hosted by the ASHRAE New York Chapter and Building Energy Exchange in 2023, and she co-authored “WEDG Insights: Coastal Resilience Project Improves Waterfront Access and Greenway Connectivity” about ESCR for the Waterfront Alliance’s WaterWire blog in 2022.
Join us for a tour of Stuyvesant Cove Park with ONE Architecture, AKRF, the NYC Department of Design and Construction, and the LiRo Group.
As the second section of the East Side Coastal Resiliency project open to the public, Stuyvesant Cove Park has been newly reconstructed with public seating, pathways for pedestrians, and a flood protection system with swinging floodgates. The gates are designed to be open for waterfront access, with the ability to close for flooding events.
We will begin with a tour of the park with Travis Bunt and Tom Heltzel from ONEArchitecture, Johari Pondt from AKRF, Eric Ilijevich from NYC Department of Design and Construction, and Ahmed Ibrahim of the LiRo Group. Then, we invite you to a casual reception to continue the conversation.
How can we provide waterfront access and park space to the public while protecting communities from future flooding?
Guest & Accessibility Policies
Urban Design Forum promotes conversations between invited civic leaders, designers, developers, and advocates. This event is open to Forum Fellows and their guests.
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully.
- The tour will include walking the course of the park.
- 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.
About Fellow Tours
As part of Public Works, we host tours of recent and ongoing built projects shaping the future of the public realm in New York City, with their designers, developers and builders.
Our tours and programming would not be possible without the continued dues contributions of our members and the generous support of our Director’s Circle.
To learn more about how you can support, please contact Miranda Bellizia, Director of Member Engagement, miranda@urbandesignforum.org.
Continuing Education
This program has been approved for AIA CES 2 LUs.
Image Credit: Courtesy of ONE Architecture
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