The Big U Awarded the American Planning Association's National Planning Excellence Award for Urban Design
April 2, 2015
AEA Consulting is thrilled to be the arts and culture consultant on the BIG U team, which has been awarded the American Planning Association's National Planning Excellence Award for Urban Design. A modular, replicable system for adapting Manhattan to climate change, the BIG U (or Dryline) challenges policymakers, design professionals, and communities to think about resiliency holistically, integrating physical protections with new cultural and economic opportunities.
The project, led by BIG / Bjarke Ingels Group was awarded $335 million in funding from the Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery program. Those funds will be used to create the first phase of the BIG U project, a "bridging berm" along East River Park that combines flood protection with increased park accessibility and new spots for resting, socializing, and enjoying views of the park and river.
Read the full announcement here.