Hi Architect-US Community!
Today I want to share some thoughts on an exciting and increasingly relevant topic: resiliency projects, especially those focused on waterfronts.
It’s been four months since I joined SiteWorks, a Landscape Architecture firm that specializes in design and construction management for public projects. It’s been an ongoing learning experience—and I’m thrilled to be part of it.
I’ve always been drawn to water—how it behaves, how buildings interact with it, and how we design to manage it both internally and as an external force. At SiteWorks, I’ve learned about the barriers cities must build to prevent flooding. One of the most impactful projects I’ve encountered is the East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) project, which opened to the public just a month ago.
All of these resiliency efforts share one common element: a barrier against water. This design responds to projections from FEMA and New York City climate panels, which estimate that by the year 2080, the city could experience water levels rising up to 17 feet above sea level during major storm events. This figure isn’t just based on sea level rise alone—it’s a combination of factors: the base flood elevation identified in FEMA flood maps (which in some parts of Manhattan is already around 10 to 12 feet), anticipated sea level rise over the next several decades, and additional safety margins known as freeboard to account for wave action and future uncertainty. Together, these components form what’s known as the Design Flood Elevation (DFE), which becomes the benchmark for designing resilient infrastructure in vulnerable zones.
The barriers that respond to this challenge, often called flood walls, are typically integrated into the surrounding landscape or built environment. Rather than standing as isolated or purely utilitarian structures, they often become part of broader public spaces—promenades, walkways, parks, and gathering areas—turning the protective edge into something that also enriches community life. In that way, public space becomes a dual-purpose tool, both shielding the city from climate threats and offering valuable places for connection, recreation, and beauty.
Resilient design doesn’t have to be cold or unattractive—it can be inviting, ecologically vibrant, and symbolically powerful. Around these flood walls, we use berms, riprap, and native plantings to soften the infrastructure and support habitat. There are specific regulations about what kinds of plants can be placed close to flood walls, based on their maintenance needs, root systems, and capacity to survive in saline or flood-prone conditions.
Now that I’ve lived in New York City for some time, I can truly see how complex and important the design decisions around water are. This city is rich—culturally, historically, and spatially—and that makes it all the more urgent to protect and adapt it thoughtfully. It’s fascinating to watch how a city can reinvent itself in response to the future. For me, resiliency work is a clear example of how urban systems can remain flexible, creative, and alive.
Thanks for reading—and I’d love to hear your thoughts or experiences with resiliency projects too!
Francisca Gil Sosa
