Brooklyn, NY

Our work at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum reimagines their 2000 sf rear courtyard as an Earth Science Exhibit and interactive garden landscape. We replaced the failing walls throughout the site with planted slopes and swales that manage water and retain the 18-foot drop. A circuit of fully accessible paths enriched with terraces for exhibits, gardens for discovery, trails for exploration and nooks for rest and contemplation then traverse the hillsides. The native plantings are organized according to plant communities found on steep terrains: ridgetop pine grove, Deciduous woodland, meadow and riparian grasses. Stone paths, boulder climbs, low walls of colored and striated concrete and a glacial “crevice” cut deep into the hillside recall regional geological features. The garden will host classes and events and provide young visitors with much needed opportunities for physical play and self-guided exploration in a natural setting.

Nancy Owens Studio Landscape Architecture and Urban Design was our collaborator on this project. Robin Moore and Nilda Costco of the Natural Learning Initiative brought their expertise to this choreography of natural play.

The client is the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) for The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) + Brooklyn Children’s Museum

Project Team:

Gans and Company: Ashley Katz, Adam Achrati, Caleb Crawford, Cristine Zubillaga, Corey Arena, Fabrizio Ungaro, Jared Rice

Landscape: Nancy Owens Studio

Civil: Sherwood Design Engineers

Structural: Silman

MEP: Dagher Engineering

Geotechnical MFS Consulting Engineers