Revitalizing Lower East Side: Delancey & Essex Parking Garage Transformation

The Delancey and Essex Municipal Parking Garage, located in Manhattan's Lower East Side, is undergoing a complete rehabilitation project led by the NYC Department of Design and Construction and NYC Department of Transportation. This five-story parking garage, which has been standing for 40 years, will be transformed with a visually dynamic façade that contributes to the vibrant texture of the growing neighborhood.

The existing precast concrete panel façades facing Essex and Ludlow Streets, which have deteriorated over time, will be replaced with a lightweight, naturally ventilated design. The inspiration for the new façade comes from the work of abstract artists such as Naum Gabo and Fred Sandback, who have masterfully used lines to define form and space. The aim is to capture the visually dynamic quality of Optical Art works from the 1960s, creating new, larger scale patterns reminiscent of Françoise Morellet's "Grillage" drawings.

To achieve this effect, standard DOT road barrier materials will be repurposed in a unique way. The cables will be turned sideways and span vertically, resembling a woven pattern on a loom. This concept of weaving is loosely associated with the history of the Lower East Side and its early garment industry.

The proposed façade for the Delancey and Essex Garage will be a three-dimensional surface of lines created by offsetting two layers of 1 ¼" composite cables. When viewed together, these layers produce moiré patterns, resulting from the interference patterns formed when the pieces cross. As viewers move around the building, either on foot or by car, the patterns seemingly shift across the face of the structure, creating a dynamic and captivating visual experience. This movement is linked to the bustling nature of vehicles occupying the garage.

The composite cable material will consist of a fiberglass core and a woven stainless steel jacket. Each cable will span from the second floor to the roof level and will be fastened to stainless steel end-fittings with adjustable turnbuckles. At intermediate levels, stainless steel "o-rings" will attach the outer layer of cables to galvanized steel "combs," which are anchored to the floor slab. The inner layer of straight lines will be attached only at endpoints.

To enhance the architectural features of the façade, a continuous edge of decorative lighting will run between the roof and second level at the southern portion of the building. This lighting will graze the cable screen, emphasizing the geometry of the façade and enhancing the overall viewing experience.

The Delancey and Essex Municipal Parking Garage rehabilitation project promises to transform this aging structure into a visually striking landmark in the Lower East Side. With its innovative use of composite cables and inspiration drawn from abstract art, the new façade will contribute to the rich texture of the neighborhood while providing a dynamic and captivating visual experience for both pedestrians and motorists.

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