Green infrastructure helps achieve environmental goals

Stormwater management innovations enhance Brooklyn neighborhoods

We are providing construction management services throughout Brooklyn for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection’s (NYCDEP) Green Infrastructure (GI) Program, which is being implemented by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC). The program’s innovative stormwater and flood management systems include nature-based approaches that are delivering many benefits for the environment, ecology and communities of New York City.

We oversee the construction of solutions that reduce the amount of stormwater flowing into the city’s combined sewers during heavy rains. These flows occasionally result in flooding and untreated, raw sewerage discharges into the NYC Harbor. Our oversight helps the NYCDEP achieve its 2030 goal of reducing overflows by 1.67 billion gallons per year.

Early CM planning participation helps coordinate multi-agency work

We bring wide-ranging services to support world-class project implementation and cost, schedule and quality excellence. Our involvement in early-stage planning helps streamline multi-agency work to meet each location’s four-to-six-week project construction window.

Green infrastructure solutions being implemented include detention systems with underground chambers that retain water during heavy rain, then slowly disperse flows into existing outfall systems. Much of this green infrastructure is being installed beneath public property like playgrounds, schools, parking lots, and paved ballfields and courts, in coordination with the associated city agencies including the New York City Housing Authority and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.

We provide guidance on standardizing materials, implementing safety and maintenance plans, and using the most effective technology — vital for coordinating and tracking concurrent work. GIS and mobile data reporting system innovations are critical for stakeholder understanding and decision-making. By considering pre-construction issues, market conditions, special inspections, site mobilization, permitting workflows and planting timelines, we continue to deliver community improvements and beautification across New York City.

Services improve the harbor and wildlife habitats

We oversee the implementation of green infrastructure elements, including rain gardens, subsurface detention systems and permeable paving, which are features that also beautify neighborhoods. Community revitalization often results from delivering new water management stability — not only are basement flooding events reduced, but these properties, and their values, are improved. For example, when underground detention systems are installed, we frequently can provide newly paved surfaces for ballfields or parking lots that benefit the neighborhood.

Also, the NYC Harbor is now cleaner than it has been in more than a century and increased urban greenspace and new natural habitats for pollinators, birds and other wildlife are reducing urban heat effect and improving air quality.

Our capabilities help deliver beneficial assets

We are proud to have already helped construct over 63 assets within the NYCEDC Green Infrastructure Program. Making smart, green investments in public properties betters Brooklyn neighborhoods and sets the bar for continued improvements, creating a more resilient New York City.