Studies for Estuaries Center
New York

Margie Ruddick has worked with Gensler to site and prepare a conceptual plan for a New York State-sponsored center for the study of rivers and estuaries worldwide, using the Hudson River as a model. From writing the selection criteria to developing test fits for six candidate sites on the river, the team has created the identity and mission for the center. The landscape will be a living, working laboratory for both the study of and education about how rivers and estuaries work, blurring the distinction between building and landscape. Outdoor classrooms and paths will link constructed and existing wetlands, remediated post-industrial sites, closed landfill and reforestation test plots.

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Bands of birches at the waterfront encourage summer breezes to funnel through the building.

The different components of the landscape perform important environmental work: linear plantings to the south funnel summer breezes into the building; plantings to the north block winter winds; wetlands at the Center filter gray water from the building and provide a learning landscape; bioswales at the parking area filter storm water runoff.