5 Spectacular Infrastructure Projects
Every now and then there'll be a huge project designed to improve how a city functions. Whether to replace an outdated facility or for protection during a natural disaster, infrastructure mega-projects are getting bigger and better. Here are five of the most impressive infrastructure projects.
Location: New York
Architect: Bjarke Ingels
Following its namesake High Line, the Dryline is next in the queue of stretching green city parks. The 10-mile waterfront park would wrap around Lower Manhattan to protect against a flood disaster like Hurricane Sandy with earthen berms and retractable walls. Sandy hit several Manhattan buildings hard, causing private owners an estimated $8.6B in damages. The project won $335M to go towards Phase 1 of a two-mile long berm along the Lower East Side with construction slated for 2017.
Location: Atlanta
Architect: HOK architects
The Atlanta Falcons' new $1.5B home will open in 2017, thanks to a 27-year partnership between the NFL team's owner, Arthur Blank, and Mercedes-Benz USA. The sports complex will be a glassy modern take on ancient Roman architecture, such as the Pantheon, HOK senior VP Bill Johnson says. Angled panels on the roof will spiral open during good weather, and represent wings not unlike a falcon's. (Get it?) The stadium will seat up to 83,000 and feature green elements such as capturing rainwater and using solar panels.
Location: Los Angeles
Architect: Black & Veatch
Built in the 1860s as a reservoir, and later used as a storm drain, Echo Lake has seen its share of—for lack of a better description—abuse and trash. The lake was closed and completely drained to undergo a $45M rehabilition project won and headed by Black & Veatch. Jim Ramsus from Black & Veatch says rerouting the runoff and a clay liner are the most innovative aspects of the project. Nicknamed the "Williamsburg of the West Coast," the surrounding neighborhood is already seeing gentrification and improved economic development.
Location: San Francisco and Oakland
Architect: Donald MacDonald
This $6.2B project was put in place to replace an unsafe portion of the Bay Bridge. But at 10 lanes across and 2.2 miles long, it ended up being the world's widest bridge and the longest of its kind as Donald hoped to build a bridge to represent Oakland the same way "the Golden Gate Bridge brands San Francisco." It took almost 24 years to complete construction due to snapping bolts and misconduct. But it was necessary, since the single tower self-anchored suspension span bridge is made to move—not break—during earthquakes and dense traffic commutes.
Location: New York
Architect: Dattner Architects, PRESENT Architecture and SHoPArchitects
Dubbed a "Third World" facility by Joe Biden, LaGuardia Airport will be getting a much-needed makeover. The new airport will be a single sleek building with an AirTrain and ferry service to the city. The three architecture firms are using $250k funding to blend their ideas into new terminal design. Gov. Andrew Cuomo hopes to bring 18,000 permanent jobs to the surrounding area, as well as new roads and more tourists. Ground will break next year at $3.6B, with (emphasis on) hopes to open to passengers in 2019.
