Brooklyn Bridge Forest - Winning Proposal

Scott Francisco (Pilot Projects), in collaboration with Grimshaw, Silman, and the Wild Conservation Society

My Role: Contributed to the overall design, story-telling, and presentation, with a focus on strategy. Built-out ‘kit-of-parts’ for the community engagement sandbox tool. Contributed to renders, sections, animations, diagrams, written narrative, and 3D models.

Reimagining Brooklyn Bridge Competition, Hosted by Van Alen Institute and New York City Council—Winning Proposal

Over 200 entries from 37 countries entered the competition to rethink how a piece of iconic infrastructure can better serve NYC and the world as a model for an equitable and restorative future. As one of three professional teams short-listed for the competition, we had the opportunity to work with the New York City Council and key stakeholders for over two months to develop our design ahead of the public presentation ‘show down’. The scope of the competition was expanded mid-competition to address BLM protests and COVID-19.

“There are four basic pillars to our proposal: An expanded promenade, new cycling and alternative transportation infrastructure, microforests, and community engagement.

Pillar 1: The historic wooden walkway will be rebuilt using planks sustainably sourced from a 200,000-acre partner forest in Guatemala. Our innovative and equitable funding model invites participation from people of all ages and income levels to sponsor each of the 20,000 new planks. Pillar 2: The bridge will be a beacon for alternative, greener modes of transport, expanding the upper promenade and overtaking a lower deck lane.

Pillar 3: At either end of the bridge, Microforests will revitalize the landscape. And, Pillar 4: Community engagement as a basis for participatory co-design.”

Brooklyn Bridge Forest Website