Mayor Michael Bloomberg presided over ceremonies on May 20 to dedicate Staten Island’s newly renovated St. George Ferry Terminal. Architect HOK envisioned this terminal renovation—one in a series of five major ferry projects in and around New York City—as a focal point for area redevelopment. The goals for the new ferry include improving the island’s transport systems greatly, becoming a tourist destination in its own right, and ranking as one of the first LEED™-certified intermodal transportation stations.

A public/private partnership—among the New York City Economic Development Corporation, the city’s Department of Transportation, construction manager Skanska, and HOK—expanded the refurbished terminal to accommodate ferry traffic, which has increased significantly since 9/11. (According to New York Construction News, daily ridership on the ferries has nearly doubled since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.) Although NY Waterway, a family-owned ferry excursion company, expects the number of riders to drop after the destroyed PATH station reopens eventually, they anticipate that future ridership will approach 70,000 passengers daily.

Enhanced transportation services provide a key focus of this project: This facility is the primary intermodal transport center for the nearly half million residents of Staten Island. In addition to providing ferry passage for commuters to Manhattan and approximately 1 million tourists per year, the terminal also serves as the northernmost station of the Staten Island Railway (the island’s light rail service) and the hub for local and limited bus service. The modernized terminal provides an easier, improved experience for riders and enhanced access to Staten Island’s waterfront and cultural activities.

New heights and lights
The renovations have brightened the century-old St. George Ferry Terminal by replacing the former brick walls with new glass curtain walls and increasing ceiling heights by up to 12 feet. The 40-foot-high glass wall alongside the river offers spectacular views of New York Harbor and creates an open and airy environment for waiting passengers. The centerpiece of the terminal is a 350-foot arch that crowns the main building. Supported by 10 cantilevered columns, the 84-foot long arched steel canopy is painted white and lighted at night, providing a strong visual presence for Staten Island.

Additional enhancements include improved wayfinding; modernized restrooms; 7,000 square feet of additional retail space, including a new restaurant; two new landscaped observation decks; terrazzo tile floors in the concourse that map the ferry’s route; a skylight to bring natural light to the retail corridor; and a new pedestrian walkway that links the ferry building to a minor league ballpark, a museum, and a planned cultural facility.

Of green roofs and oyster beds
Sustainable features of the project include a quarter-acre green roof on an adjacent building, rainwater collection for irrigation and runoff reduction, the reintroduction of oyster beds at ferry slips to purge the water naturally of boat emissions, and recycled building materials. The architect is hoping to achieve LEED-Silver certification.

“The cumulative impact of the revitalization of the station and on adjacent sites to the south and north will have a profound effect on the local economy and on the local and regional perceptions of St. George and Staten Island,” said Kenneth H. Drucker, AIA, director of design in HOK’s New York City office. “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.”

—Heather Livingston

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