Flood Protection & Resiliency

Langan is experienced in evaluating and designing flood mitigation measures to help protect our clients’ real assets. While a majority of our work involves shoreline protection and erosion stabilization, we have also designed flood barriers for public infrastructure and building entrances. In recent years, we have been actively engaged in a number of tasks that are categorized under the wider banner of flood assessment and protection services. Langan has assisted dozens of clients in assessing their damaged properties, buildings, and shorelines, and has provided consultation and design of flood proofing measures to mitigate their risk for future storm events.

Langan stands at the forefront of coastal resilience, and has developed and implemented  innovative mitigation strategies at sites ranging in size from large campuses with multiple buildings and facilities, to properties with standalone structures. As such, we are very familiar with flood hardening solutions that are both site-wide, including design of berms, cut-off walls and temporary barriers, as well as building-specific.

New York Aquarium – Rehabilitation & Flood Mitigation

OVERVIEW
Having completed a damage assessment in an earlier Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) report, Langan was retained to complete permitting and construction documentation phase services for New York Aquarium’s (NYA) restoration efforts. Design services included repair and replacement of damaged site and building features and improvements to bring the NYA infrastructure up to current code. We also provided mitigation services to prevent similar flood-related damages in the future. Langan’s scope included coordination with the architect and design team to document the FEMA-approved scope of work throughout the 14-acre site.

Location
Brooklyn, NY

Client
Wildlife Conservation Society

Services
Site/Civil
Geotechnical

Architect
di Domenico + Partners


NYCHA Flood Mitigation Projects

OVERVIEW
Langan has provided engineering and surveying services related to the analysis and design of flood protection measures for about a dozen housing developments operated by the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). Our services have generally included:

• Assessment of sea level rise and determination of project specific design flood elevation
• Estimation of flood loads for design
• Evaluation of potential methods for flood protection
• Seepage analysis for selected flood protection measures
• Evaluation of slope stability and design of slope stabilization measures
• Design of below-grade cutoff walls
• Design of foundations to support flood walls and barriers
• Design of areas of rescue outside building entrances

Location
Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island, NY

Client
New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)

Services
Site/Civil
Geotechnical
Traditional Surveying
Environmental

Architect
Various Architects


MTA Coney Island Rail Yard Flood Wall

OVERVIEW
During Hurricane Sandy, surging floodwaters swamped this 75-acre yard at Coney Island. Seawater from the Atlantic damaged switching and signaling equipment, and compromised critical infrastructure that provides storage and maintenance facilities for approximately 1,800 subway cars. Langan provided survey and geotechnical engineering services, and assisted the design team throughout the planning, design, and construction administration phases of this long-term flood mitigation/resiliency systems project.

Location
Brooklyn, NY

Client
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)

Services
Geotechnical
Traditional Surveying

Lead Designer
STV


PANYNJ Flood Mitigation Projects

OVERVIEW
Langan completed design and construction support work for the storm surge protection of critical facilities at Port Jersey in Bayonne and Brooklyn Marine Terminal in Brooklyn. Specifically, six electrical rooms and an electric transformer area at Port Jersey and two fire pump rooms at the Brooklyn Marine Terminal were protected with a variety of approaches including containerized earth flood barriers, concrete closure walls, and removable slide-in barriers. Each room’s protection system was designed taking into account flood and wave loads and potential seepage entrances via underground utilities and existing structural weak points.

Location
New Jersey & New York

Client
The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ)

Services
Site/Civil
Geotechnical


55 Water Street – Flood Mitigation

OVERVIEW
This commercial property, located on Manhattan's southeast waterfront, sustained extensive damage as a result of flooding during Hurricane Sandy. Langan was retained to provide site/civil engineering services in support of flood mitigation efforts, which included the design of a perimeter flood wall system. Our services included flood elevation consulting; Builders Pavement Plan for sidewalk improvements and grading adjustments; NYCDOT Revocable Consent support for placement of the flood wall bearing plates and foundation within the street and adjoining right of ways; and development of an interim flood mitigation strategy. During construction we provided oversight of flood wall foundation construction and assisted the owner in applying for a FEMA Letter of Map Amendment.

Location
New York, NY

Client
New Water Street Corporation

Service
Site/Civil

Architect
HLW International

Strategic Partners
Thornton Tomasetti
Jaros Baum & Bolles


173 and 176 Perry Street – Flood Mitigation

OVERVIEW
Langan provided engineering design services related to dry flood proofing of existing residential buildings in the West Village in Lower Manhattan. Our services included preparation of a number of flood barrier schemes, and preparation of plans and specifications for the selected design. Our design included pumps to be installed on the dry side of the flood wall to collect water from seepage and rain during storm events and seepage under the wall. Langan also developed an interim flood mitigation strategy prior to the construction of the permanent system.

Location
New York, NY

Client
Brown Harris Stevens Residential Management

Services
Site/Civil
Traditional Surveying

Architect
Brian Messena Architect

Strategic Partners
Israel Berger & Associates
Robert Silman Associates
AKF Group


Shoreline Restoration & Protection

OVERVIEW
Shoreline erosion has resulted in the gradual loss of sand and topsoil on the island’s shoreline. This erosion has undermined the island’s bridge abutment, road, and other infrastructure. Recent major storms such as Irene and Sandy have accelerated the shoreline loss. Langan has been involved with multiple phases of work to restore and protect the island’s bridge and shoreline areas. The first phase involved protecting the bridge abutment with a revetment scour blanket and the reconstruction of storm-damaged road pavement. The second phase of restoration included protecting the south shore with vegetated gabion walls and the shielding of radio transmission equipment on the north shore with gabion mattresses.

Location
Bronx, NY

Client
Confidential

Services
Waterfront & Marine
Site/Civil
Natural Resources & Permitting
Traditional Surveying


Rebuild by Design

OVERVIEW
The aftermath of Hurricane Sandy created approximately $65 billion in damages across the New York Metro region. Retail and commercial corridors along waterfronts were found to be particularly vulnerable having left thousands of residents without access to basic goods and services. Langan was part of a consultant team of architects, planners and advisors providing expert flood resiliency and mitigation planning services for Sandy-affected regions. The team’s specific mission included identifying and documenting neighborhood retail and service corridors in need of future storm resiliency.

Location
New York & New Jersey

Client
U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD)

Services
Waterfront & Marine
Site/Civil

Strategic Partners
HR&A Advisors
Cooper Robertson & Partners
Grimshaw Architects
W Architecture
Hargreaves Associates
Alamo Architects
Urban Green Council
Ironstate Development
Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation
New City America


Gowanus Canal Waterfront Projects

OVERVIEW
Langan is providing marine consulting services at various private properties along the Gowanus Canal. The canal is a Superfund site on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Priorities List, and all designs must accommodate ongoing cleanup activities. Our scope includes above- and below-water inspections, including subsurface exploration, for the evaluation and replacement of bulkhead structures. Each bulkhead replacement design is customized to the proposed development and site conditions, and all work activities require extensive coordination with the EPA. We are also performing construction inspection services.

Location
Brooklyn, NY

Client
Various Private Clients

Services
Waterfront & Marine
Geotechnical
Environmental


Bush Terminal Waterfront Rehabilitation

OVERVIEW
The NYCEDC planned for the major overhaul of truck routing at a waterfornt industrial complex, which required the rehabilitation of failing bulkheads and the extension of a 100-year-old, 6-foot diameter brick combined sewer outfall (CSO). Langan designed the repair scheme for the rehabilitation of the approximately 280-foot-long-wharf, which consisted of cantilevered sheetpiles laterally supported by revetment placed on the exterior, as well as a 30-foot-long outboard extension of the wharf to accommodate the expansion of Marginal Street and the extension of the CSO.

Location
Brooklyn, NY

Client
New York City Economic Development Corporation

Services
Waterfront & Marine
Geotechnical

Strategic Partner
Turner Construction Company


Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park

OVERVIEW
Designed by renowned architect Louis Kahn, the 4.5-acre park and plaza sits at Roosevelt Island's southernmost point. The site is immediately across the East River from the United Nations, and features a landscaped open garden and plaza area for passive public enjoyment, promenade along the river, forecourt, sculpture court and front plaza overlooking the river with views of Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn.
AWARDS
2013 Engineering News Record Best Project – Merit Award (Landscape/Hardscape/Urban Development)
2013 American Institute of Architects New York Chapter Design Awards: Urban Design Merit Award
2013 Municipal Art Society: Brendan Gill Prize
2013 Travel + Leisure Design Awards: Best Public Space
2013 American Council of Engineering Companies New Jersey Chapter, Engineering Excellence Awards, Honor Award
2013 American Council of Engineering Companies, Engineering Excellence Awards, Grand Award

Location
Roosevelt Island, NY

Client
Frankling D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park, LLC

Services
Waterfront & Marine
Land Use Planning
Natural Resources & Permitting
Site/Civil
Geotechnical
Landscape Architecture

Architects
Mitchell | Giurgola Architects
Louis Kahn

Strategic Partners
Weidlinger Associates
F.J. Sciame


InterActiveCorp (IAC) Headquarters Building

OVERVIEW
Langan's integrated services helped overcome numerous technical challenges that ultimately transformed a former manufactured gas plant site into an iconic structure on the Hudson River.

AWARDS
2008 American Council of Engineering Companies New York, Engineering Excellence Award, Platinum

Location
New York, NY

Client
The Georgetown Company

Services
Geotechnical
Site/Civil
Environmental

Architects
Frank Gehry Architect
Adamson Associates

Strategic Partner
DeSimone Consulting Engineers


Bay Head Yacht Club

OVERVIEW
The clubhouse's first floor was flooded by recent large storms, including Super Storm Sandy in 2012, and deteriorated piles could no longer be maintained. Renovations included demolition and rebuilding of the eastern portion of the yacht club, installation of new piles, raising the clubhouse approximately 10 feet to minimize future flooding, and replacing both the existing bulkhead on the north side of the building and the wrap-around deck. Langan's engineering services included geotechnical/marine bulkhead investigations, flood load analysis and geotechnical subsurface investigations, and foundation recommendations. Our permitting services included a pre-application meeting and submittal of a Coastal Jurisdictional Determination with the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).

Location
Bay Head, NJ

Client
Bay Head Yacht Club

Services
Waterfront & Marine
Geotechnical
Natural Resources & Permitting

Strategic Partners
SBI Consultants
Robert Silman Associates


Colgate-Palmolive Waterfront

OVERVIEW
Langan provided waterfront, geotechnical, site/civil, traffic, and environmental engineering, and landscape architecture services for the redevelopment of Colgate Center, which formerly served as the main Colgate-Palmolive production facility for more than 150 years. The project involved the construction of 1,100 LF of anchored sheet pile bulkhead, a box culvert manifold, new relieving platform, and a world class promenade with sweeping views of Lower Manhattan.
AWARDS
2000 ACEC NJ Engineering Excellence Award

Location
Jersey City, NJ

Client
Colgate-Palmolive Company

Services
Waterfront & Marine
Geotechnical
Site/Civil
Environmental
Traffic & Transportation
Landscape Architecture


DMAVA Park and Hudson River Walkway

OVERVIEW
DMAVA Park and Hudson River Walkway is a public waterfront park offering sweeping views of Lower Manhattan and the New York Harbor, as well as the home of the historic Colgate Clock. This project responded to the environmental, historical, and recreational challenges of the property, specifically the movement of goods and cargo nearby and the historic migrations of people through nearby Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Langan designed this project for the NJDEP, including 1,600 linear feet of waterfront walkways, a bulkhead and waterfront esplanade, a timber boardwalk, and a three-acre park along the Morris Canal Basin, across from Liberty State Park. Our sensitive approach to preservation and ecologically-based engineering helped interpret and magnify this history while reconnecting Jersey City to its waterfront.

Location
Jersey City, NJ

Client
New Jersey Department of Property Management and Construction

Services
Landscape Architecture
Environmental
Natural Resources & Permitting
Geotechnical


SkyMark Center

OVERVIEW
The SkyMark Center is proposed to consist of 680,000 SF of retail, 983 residential units, a combined 20-story hotel and residential tower with a conference center and attached multi-level parking garages. The new development will give Ridgefield Park the solution to utilize this parcel to its highest and best use along with simultaneously remediating the existing environmental conditions of this site.

Location
Village of Ridgefield Park, NJ

Client
SkyMark Development Company

Services
Site/Civil
Surveying/Geospatial
Traffic & Transportation
Natural Resources & Permitting
Environmental

Architect
DMR Architects


Mirabay Bulkhead Stabilization

OVERVIEW
Langan provided solutions to stabilize and rehabilitate the Mirabay Community's approximately 8 miles of bulkhead that was undergoing significant movement. We developed design alternatives to satisfy this boating community's requirements/desires, provided cost analysis for the design options, and construction monitoring.

Location
Apollo Beach, FL

Client
Harbor Bay Community Development District

Service
Waterfront & Marine


Crescent City Inner Harbor

OVERVIEW
Langan provided geotechnical services for the Crescent City Inner Harbor rehabilitation project after it was affected by the tsunami generated from the 2011 earthquake in Japan. The project consisted of replacing existing steel piles with concrete piles, adding additional concrete piles to support new concrete floating docks, and constructing new foundations for the three gangway landings.

Location
Crescent City, CA

Client
Stover Engineering

Services
Geotechnical
Waterfront & Marine


Chalmette Loop Levee

OVERVIEW
The Chalmette Loop Levee is a primary flood protection component of the Army Corps of Engineer's mission to protect the City of New Orleans. The Bayou Bienvenue to Bayou Dupre Reach LPV 145 is a 6-mile stretch of levee flood protection improvement adjacent to the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet waterway. The improvement consists of a 10- to 14-foot reinforced concrete T-wall to be constructed atop the existing levee to improve the flood protection to a 100-year event. Langan's role included pile foundation and subgrade stabilization design, constructability reviews, temporary bridge structural foundation design, and value engineering.

Location
New Orleans, LA

Client
Chalmette Levee Constructors (Kiewit/Massman/Traylor JV)

Service
Geotechnical

Strategic Partner
US Army Corps of Engineers


Gulf Intracoastal Waterway West Closure Complex

OVERVIEW
The GIWW West Closure Complex is a primary flood protection component of the Army Corps of Engineer's mission to protect the City of New Orleans and the largest pump station in the US. Langan spearheaded a full-depth pilot test and computer modeling program to evaluate the potential for base heave of the deep excavations, dewatering techniques, and overall constructability. Langan also provided geotechnical services, road subgrade stabilization, dewatering, spud piles, and access road construction.

Location
New Orleans, LA

Client
Gulf Intracoastal Constructors (Kiewit Federal/Traylor Brothers)

Services
Geotechnical
Site/Civil

Strategic Partner
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers


Selected Projects