Pippa Brashear, RLA, Resilience Principal & Partner, SCAPE Landscape Architecture DPC
Widely considered a model for climate-adaptive nature-based infrastructure, Living Breakwaters is a $107 million project that provides a layered approach to resilience and risk reduction–enhancing physical, ecological and social resilience along the South Shore of Staten Island, NY. The project consists primarily of 2,400 linear feet of near-shore breakwaters–partially submerged structures built of stone and ecologically-enhanced concrete units–that will break waves, reducing storm damage and erosion on shore, and provide a range of structured habitat for oysters, fin fish and other marine species. The Living Breakwaters concept was developed by a large, multi-disciplinary team led by SCAPE as part of a winning proposal for Rebuild By Design, the design competition launched by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) after Superstorm Sandy. This session explored the principles and process of designing and implementing Living Breakwaters, the diverse, interdisciplinary perspectives and expertise involved, and lessons learned for other nature-based coastal infrastructure that aim to deliver risk reduction as well as ecosystem and social benefits.
The N-EWN Knowledge Series offers 1 Continuing Education Credit (CEC) per seminar. This Series is presented by N-EWN, Limnotech, the University of Georgia, and USACE ERDC.