Re:C Ons T R U C T
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RE:CONSTRUCTION Alliance for Downtown New York, Inc. 120 Broadway, Suite 3340 New York, New York 10271 The mission of the Alliance for Downtown New York is to provide service, advocacy, research and information to advance Lower Manhattan as a global model of the 21st Century Central Business District for the businesses, residents and visitors. www.DowntownNY.com RE:CONSTRUCTION Portrait of Progress in Lower Manhattan 2 From the Chairman and President Lower Manhattan is in a constant state of reinvention. It is a neighborhood synonymous with progress and renewal. More than 400 years of history have shown that Lower Manhattan is a wellspring of innovation, resilience, and resounding achievement. It has always creatively “reconstructed” itself as it adapts to new peoples, new challenges, new technologies, and the unforeseen. In the dozen years since September 11, 2001, Lower Manhattan is experiencing another renaissance. Over these last 12 years, private and public entities have invested $30 billion in Lower Manhattan. While this monumental investment is adding incredible dynamism to our already swiftly evolving neighborhood, it has also created a set of temporary challenges as 70 significant construction projects have been launched in a densely packed district. In response, the Downtown Alliance asked: how do we harness the tumult and create something positive and beautiful for the 60,000 people who call Lower Manhattan home, the hundreds of thousands who work here, and the millions who come and visit? The answer: Re:Construction, a groundbreaking initiative that recasts construction barriers as large-scale canvases for temporary public art. Amid the hustle and bustle of fast-changing Lower Manhattan, since 2007 the Re:Construction program has unveiled nearly 40 works of art—making our sidewalks more user-friendly, our streetscape more scenic, and integrating thought-provoking and delightful art into the pedestrian experience. We are proud to present this collection of images of our Re:Construction projects. After you explore these works of art in the pages of this book, we invite you to come explore our streets, to experience those still on display for yourself as they were intended to be experienced. As you walk around, you will notice that Lower Manhattan never stands still—its excitement, beauty and vitality is always being built. Robert R. Douglass Elizabeth H. Berger Chairman President 2 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from the Chairman & President ............................................................................ 3 Poster Project @ 50 Trinity ............................................................................................39 Overview ............................................................................................................................. 7 Concrete Jungle ................................................................................................................40 Rhythm & Movement ....................................................................................................9 Flying Animals .................................................................................................................42 Walking Men 99TM ............................................................................................................ 10 Monk Parakeets with Mourning Doves and Redwings ................................................44 Water Movements .............................................................................................................12 Cityscapes ..............................................................................................................47 Men at Work ......................................................................................................................14 Around the Corner ...........................................................................................................48 Aquatic Dream ................................................................................................................. 16 Walks of Life .....................................................................................................................50 Untitled ..............................................................................................................................17 Houston Fence ...................................................................................................................51 Life, Actually ......................................................................................................................18 Rendering Leonard .......................................................................................................... 52 Natural Beauty ............................................................................................................... 21 Hours of the Day .............................................................................................................. 53 Half Awake, Half Alseep ..................................................................................................22 Fulton Fence ..................................................................................................................... 54 Sour Gum Tree: Seasonal Glory......................................................................................24 Drift ................................................................................................................................... 55 Mirage Canyon ................................................................................................................. 25 Urban Umbrella ............................................................................................................... 56 Restore the View ..............................................................................................................26 The Greatest City on Earth ............................................................................................. 58 Green Gate, Summer ....................................................................................................... 27 Corbin Building ................................................................................................................ 59 Secret Gardens .................................................................................................................28 Finding Your Way ........................................................................................................... 61 Star Sun Burst ..................................................................................................................30 WardWalk .........................................................................................................................62 Fence Embroidery with Embellishment .........................................................................31 Best Pedestrian Route ......................................................................................................64 Rainbow Conversation.....................................................................................................32 Wayfinding ........................................................................................................................66 It Takes Time to Turn a Space Around ........................................................................ 33 Lasting Impressions ..................................................................................................... 69 Botanizing on the Asphalt ...............................................................................................34 Alliance for Downtown New York Board of Directors .................................................70 Urban Jungle ............................................................................................................. 37 Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................71 Downtown Dogs ...............................................................................................................38 Photo Credits .................................................................................................................... 72 4 5 OVERVIEW: As the year 2000 approached, Lower Manhattan, the one-square mile at the tip of the full program, which matched submissions from a roster of emerging and the island, had become home to a stronger, more diverse mix of businesses than the accomplished artists with private and public property owners wishing to turn district had seen in many decades, a growing residential community, and millions of construction eyesores into eye-catching works of beauty. visitors from across the globe. Four arts consultants selected by the advisory committee presented artist portfolios Then came the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center. In the to interested owners who made the final selections. The Downtown Alliance and aftermath, the eyes of the world remained fixed on the neighborhood as people art consultants managed the rest, supported by The LMDC grant, which covered from all walks of life and all corners of the earth joined in the recovery and the acquisition of the materials, fabrication, installation, deinstallation and payment rebuilding process. of fees. The rebuilding has brought a more than decade-long wave of construction. To date, Re:Construction has produced close to 40 public art and wayfinding While many major projects are now nearing completion, the