WXY, in collaboration with Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), was commissioned by the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership (DBP) to create a unified vision for Downtown Brooklyn’s plazas, streets and public spaces. In the fifteen years since the 2004 rezoning, Downtown Brooklyn has faced unprecedented growth. Since then, the neighborhood has transformed into a true, 24-hour, mixed-use community which has caused a new demand on streets, sidewalks, transit infrastructure and public spaces. The Public Realm Action Plan is a response to that growth and will set forth solutions to help put Downtown Brooklyn on a new trajectory, reflecting its growing prominence in New York City and the nation’s economy and taking into account the varied needs of its residents, workforce, businesses and visitors.
The WXY and BIG Team combine their placemaking and multidisciplinary talents to tackle the range of challenges facing Downtown Brooklyn’s public realm. The team also includes transportation consultant Sam Schwartz, landscape and maintenance experts MNLA, and VJ Associates for cost estimation.
Over the duration of the approximately year-long project, the WXY and BIG team will work with public and private stakeholders to analyze existing conditions, create a cohesive vision and urban design framework, and develop an action plan that includes implementation and maintenance strategies, as well as design schematics for immediate, short and long-term public realm interventions.
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