Rockaway Beach Open Up

Borough of Queens, NY, United States

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Rockaway Beach Open Up

Borough of Queens, NY, United States

Firm

Sage and Coombe Architects

Type

Commercial › Retail
Cultural › Pavilion
Government + Health › Community Center
Landscape + Planning › Public Park Urban Green Space Waterway/Wetland Masterplan

YEAR

2013

SIZE

100,000 sqft - 300,000 sqft

In December 2012, after extensive damage from Hurricane Sandy, Sage and Coombe was asked to design a series of raised platforms or "islands" at the elevation of the former boardwalk, to allow access to and from the street and beach. Each island provides outdoor showers, shading from the summer sun and access to concession facilities.

Spanning over 1.5 miles, Sage and Coombe sought to restore amenities at three sites at Beach 86th, 97th, and 106th Street, with a secondary site at Beach 116th Street. Each surviving building is wrapped in a graphic with an overlaid area map of the Rockaways, providing a visual icon orienting visitors along the length of the beachfront. The bold colors also create a visual link between the sites without the benefit of a connecting boardwalk. Design and construction were conceived and completed within five months.

Opened on Memorial Day 2013, the project has championed the strength of the Design Excellence initiative and ultimately, the resilience of the City.

Team
Landscape Architects: Mathews Nielsen Landscape
Structural: McLaren Engineering Group
Beach Signage: Pentagram