In early May, demolition of the existing Pavilion began on the South Battery Park Wagner Pavilion Resiliency Project in Manhattan. This was done after salvaging exotic wood. Stone elements will be incorporated into the rebuilt park.

Following the completion of pile testing activities, the project entered the pile driving stage. A total of 123 steel piles have been driven to depths ranging from 45 to 55 feet below grade. The final as-build pile survey is being submitted, along with pile deviations for approval before proceeding with cut-offs and cap plates. Once the pile effort is completed, the project will move onto foundation and grade beam work.

As of 2024, all concrete pile caps and grade beams have been poured on the South Battery Park Wagner Pavilion Resiliency Project. 90 percent of the basement foundation walls have been installed. The remaining architectural foundation wall, which is exposed to the public in the front of the pavilion, was poured in late February. All underground piping and conduit under the pavilion have been installed and tested in preparation for the basement slab placement.

Wagner Park, a cherished waterfront greenspace in Battery Park City, boasts unobstructed views of the Statue of Liberty and New York Harbor. Built nearly 30 years ago, the park has served as an escape for residents of the fast-paced, densely packed neighborhood in Lower Manhattan. As part of a major $221 million climate resilience plan, the Battery Park City Authority will tear down Wagner Park, reconstruct it with new flood-prevention features and raise it by 10 feet. The change will protect the neighborhood from flooding, storm surge and rising sea levels.

The raised Wagner Park will include a buried flood wall along with elevated berms and pop-up walls — infrastructure that’s been identified as critical in an era of climate change. The park will also feature a 63,000-gallon subterranean cistern for retaining, storing and reusing storm water, as well as planted gardens designed to withstand sea level rise and extreme weather.

The new modern Pavilion building of architectural concrete will be the centerpiece of Wagner Park.

In January 2024, the Waterfront Alliance announced that this project would be the 13th nationally to achieve WEDG (Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines) Verificiation. WEDG is a rating system and set of guidelines for resilient, ecological, and accessible waterfront design. Projects must pass a technical review to be deemed eligible for WEDG Verification. To learn more, click here.