Citi Field, a new 42,000-seat baseball stadium for the New York Mets, opened on April 13th, 2009 to the cheers of thousands of Mets fans. JLGA designed the 55-acre site surrounding the new stadium.Project Details:–Feasibility study, schematic drawings and site development for the new 42,000-seat stadium.–Site development and design emphasizing the connection between the existing site and surrounding Flushing Meadows-Corona Park and Flushing Bay.–Reconfiguring the Willets Point subway station to enhance pedestrian circulation. –Utility coordination, parking infrastructure, plaza design and site lighting. Sustainability:–Sustainability was an important component in the site design of Citi Field. By creating a “smarter” drainage system, JLGA was able to decrease the amount and flow rate of stormwater through the use of detention systems, filtering systems, and permeable pavements. –The bus parking lot employs permeable pavers creating a completely self contained drainage system. The permeable pavers will reduce the pollution created from the parking lot by breaking down pollutants naturally and locally, rather than draining them into the storm lines. –Illumination for the parking lots consists of full cutoff high mast light poles. This technology reduces light pollution and the number of light poles required on the site. –Other ways JLGA realized a “greener” site were by planting hundreds of trees, recycling demolition materials, and mandating that low-sulfur diesel fuel be used in all construction equipments. The scope and public nature of the Citi Field project required JLGA to obtain approvals from various City agencies and advocacy groups including the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, the New York City Economic Development Corporation, Department of Environmental Protection, the Metropolitan Transit Authority, NYPD Counterterrorism, the United Spinal Association and the Office of the Mayor of New York City.
