HOK adds drama to ferry terminal.

A new, vastly-improved ferry terminal at St. George on Staten Island is to be dedicated on May 20th, in an event presided over by Mayor Bloomberg.

The project, which creates a state-of-the-art gateway to Staten Island for thousands of commuters and tourists, was developed over many years of planning and study by Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum (HOK) to meet the goals of the community and New York City through a unique design.

"The cumulative impact of the revitalization of the station and on adjacent sites to the south and north will have a profound impact on the local economy and on the local and regional perceptions of St. George and Staten Island," said Kenneth Drucker, Director of Design at the New York office of HOK.

"The building previously lacked memorable spaces for commuters waiting for a ferry or as a destination for tourists. The design celebrates the arrival to Staten Island by providing improvements that will both enhance tourism and benefit citizens of Staten Island." The project is a public/private partnership, being overseen by the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC), on behalf of the City and the City's Department of Transportation (DOT).

The terminal is the home of the Staten Island Ferry, a New York City icon and the commuter lifeline between Staten Island and Manhattan. The ferry ride is also a popular sightseeing excursion for over 1,000,000 tourists each year to view the Statue of Liberty and other New York Harbor landmarks. The modernized terminal will invite visitors to the many cultural attractions Staten Island has to offer and provide an access point to other waterfront attractions.

The terminal has an appealing mix of uses serving both the daily commuters and tourists. The dark and dingy main waiting area has been transformed into a soaring space with clerestory windows on all sides to let in natural light.

The forty-foot high glass wall along the waterside provides a spectacular view of New York Harbor.

Additionally, two grand observation decks have been added to further take advantage of the expansive harbor views. Particularly memorable is a soaring, 350-foot arch that crowns the main building and faces Staten Island. Its shape is inspired by the bridges serving Staten Island. Constructed of painted steel, the arch is lit at night, becoming a powerful beacon for Staten Island.

HOK has also embraced the need to incorporate sustainable architecture and through its efforts has placed this project on track to be the first-ever LEED Certified sustainable intermodal center in America. The sustainable design strategies include a 1/4 acre living green roof and the reintroduction of oyster beds at the ferry slips.

Among the improvements included in the renovations are: Design Impact: New glass curtain walls have replaced the original brick walls, a new terrazzo tile floor lines the concourse, a skylight brings natural light to the new retail corridor and existing confusing signs have been replaced with clear and understandable signage.

Redeveloped Passenger Waiting Area: Enhanced retail and passenger amenities include: floor-to-ceiling glass which allows panoramic views of the harbor and incoming ferries; upgraded restrooms; new information systems (including public address systems) and new signage. The floor of the waiting room is accentuated by a colorful terrazzo map of the ferry's route across the harbor.

Additional Restaurant and Retail Space 7,000 s/f of additional space was created, providing a 30% increase in retail development space and estimated to triple the existing rent collected by the City.

Waterfront Plaza Landscaped areas provide breathtaking views of the New York City skyline, open public areas and waterfront restaurant.

The terminal has remained fully operational since construction began and transportation services have remained uninterrupted over the course of construction.