Groundbreaking for Brooklyn Botanic Garden Overlook Project
Groundbreaking for the Robert W. Wilson Overlook at Brooklyn Botanic Garden took place on June 6. The opening will be in the summer of 2019. One of the Garden’s most significant undeveloped sites, the Overlook encompasses a 1.25-acre area with sweeping views over Cherry Esplanade and the Garden at large. Taking design cues from the adjacent Diane H. and Joseph S. Steinberg Visitor Center the new Robert W. Wilson Overlook will be reimagined, reconstructed, and replanted in its entirety to create an immersive landscape that amplifies one of BBG’s most extraordinary vistas. 
As the Landscape Architect for the project, SiteWorks worked closely with Weiss/Manfredi Architects and Toby Wolf Landscape Architect to complete and coordinate the construction documentation expanding the Garden’s botanical collection and bringing functional reverence to an overgrown slope fronting one of its most notable spaces. The planting design by Toby Wolf including the crape myrtle species seeks to complement the design of a universally accessible pathway that provides connection and a continuous circuit between the Overlook, the Visitor’s Center, and the Cherry Esplanade.
The flowering crape-myrtle trees are an immersive four-season planting scheme of ornamental grasses and perennials. In seasonal counterpoint to the Garden’s famous spring cherry blossom display, the crape-myrtles offer a spectacular floral show of whites and pinks in late summer, vibrant foliage in the autumn, and intricately textured and patterned exfoliating cinnamon bark that extends their visual appeal into the winter. The grasses and perennials will combine to form a robust, resilient ecosystem that evolves over time, inviting a diversity of insect life and stabilizing the soil to prevent erosion.
Parametric walls designed by Weiss/Manfredi move sinuously across the landscape and were carefully studied – along with the topography with which they are intimately linked – with multiple iterations. SiteWorks challenged the initial budgetary constraints, ultimately convincing the team to pursue a system of precast concrete wall segments. This material change simultaneously streamlines the installation of the projects physical structures and lessens the severity of the proposed slopes facilitating a more robust and viable planting strategy.
Utilizing best practices, SiteWorks led the proposal for re-use of existing soils, amended to respond to the topography. The moisture regimes were carefully coordinated with the planting palette that was ultimately developed.
SiteWorks Founding Partner Annette Wilkus, FASLA presented at New Jersey ASLA’s 2018 annual conference in February. The topic of her presentation was “Bridging the Divide between Rendering and Reality”. Expanding on our successful ASLA national presentation – Inside the LA Studio-Annette spoke to how “We Have to Think Differently” when it comes to the delivery of the project and continued stewardship after the construction is complete. As a profession we often focus on the design and the associated renderings to sell the project many times missing the importance of cost modeling, peer reviews, maintenance manuals and construction administration as key elements to the success of the project. Speaking to “ice berg theory” – or “a lot more happens to achieve what you see” theory, Annette expanded on the need for communication early and often with the client, supporting design professions, construction managers, contractors and the maintenance crew. Additionally, understanding how the design will be constructed is a critical portion of the design process. Understanding access to the site, seasonality and how it applies to soil installation and planting seasons is critical to the success of the project.
Annette and Andrew were featured at a special session at the ASLA National meeting in Los Angles in October entitled “In the Studio with SiteWorks”. The event was hosted by Laura Solano, principal at Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates. Annette and Andrew discuss the history and philosophy of the firm as a specialty landscape architectural practice focused on design implementation, cost planning, pre-construction services and stewardship strategies. Their talk emphasized how the profession needs to think more broadly about how projects are conceived and executed to deliver higher performing landscapes over the long-term.
Joining her on the panel was Molly Burne from MNLA, Lisa Tziona Switkin from James Corner Field Operations, Donna Walcavage from Stantec and Moderator Susan Chin from the Design Trust for Public Space.
headquarters, creating a global center for philanthropy and civil society. As part of the project, the atrium plantings and fountain will be fully restored to the spirit of the original Dan Kiley design, an innovative atrium public space designed in 1964.
At the ASLANY 2016 Design Awards, SiteWorks received a Merit Award for Collaborative Design for P.S. 111M, New York, NY: Run On, Run Off; A Green Infrastructure Playground and Community Park. The project needed a versatile, multi-purpose green infrastructure system capable of managing and infiltrating a five year storm event, while simultaneously providing an inclusive and durable playground for students and the neighborhood as well. The three month participatory design curriculum, a collaborative effort between SiteWorks, the Trust for Public Land and approximately one hundred dedicated and insightful students.
