City approves climate‑resilient dockhouse for 79th Street Boat Basin

Public Design Commission Approves ARO’s Climate‑Resilient 79th Street Boat Basin Dockhouse as Part of $90M Revitalization

The recent decision by the city’s Public Design Commission approves Architecture Research Office’s plan for a climate‑resilient 79th Street Boat Basin Dockhouse, marking a major milestone in a $90 million revitalization of the Riverside Park waterfront. The dockhouse, designed to withstand flood and storm impacts while improving access and services for boaters, sits at the heart of a broader effort that aims to restore the basin after years of deterioration and a Superstorm Sandy setback.

The project is part of a fifteen‑acre revitalization that includes dredging the basin for the first time in decades, replacing docks, and expanding educational partnerships with groups such as the Billion Oyster Project and the Department of Education. The dockhouse itself is the centerpiece of this work, balancing climate resilience with public access and waterfront character.

Design highlights and resilience features

The new dockhouse is a 3,800‑square‑foot, one‑story structure elevated on a grid of nine columns to meet FEMA flood‑zone requirements. A green roof, shading devices, and carefully chosen materials are aimed at reducing energy use and integrating the building with the surrounding parkland. Exterior cladding uses a low‑luster stainless steel finish that helps the façade reflect water and sun, while large corner windows provide broad visibility. To protect local wildlife, fritted patterns are applied to windows for bird safety.

The building form features chamfered corners and an angled floor plan designed to embed the dockhouse in its context and preserve views from Riverside Park. Inside, the compact program includes space for Parks Department staff, secure storage, and services to support the city’s only year‑round live‑aboard site.

Design team and process

The dockhouse was designed by Architecture Research Office (ARO) in collaboration with Moffatt & Nichol Engineering and with PS&S serving as architect of record. The elevated, nine‑column structure reflects a deliberate strategy to address flood risk while maintaining a light touch on the riverside landscape and minimizing visual impact on nearby Riverside Park.

Context, history, and why this matters

The 79th Street Boat Basin traces its origins to Robert Moses’s West Side Improvement Project and opened in 1937, becoming a focal point of the city’s maritime culture. Over the years, the basin hosted houseboat residents and a range of boating activity, and it served as a social hub tied to New York’s waterfront identity. The current revitalization follows a years‑long city design and planning process, built on lessons from the 2012 Superstorm Sandy, which left the docks splintered and the dockhouse extensively damaged. In 2021, Parks Department announced a marina shutdown and a $90 million overhaul in coordination with FEMA, with all tenants relocated as work began.

The revived facility will support a broader effort to reconnect the basin with the city’s educational and community programs, including partnerships with the Billion Oyster Project and the Department of Education. Demand for waterfront access remains high: the marina currently runs on a wait list of about 1,000 people for opportunities over the next 15 years, underscoring the importance of a modern, resilient waterfront asset.

Project status and outlook

With design approval secured in August, the project moves forward toward construction milestones aligned with the broader dredging, dock replacement, and programmatic expansion goals. The dockhouse’s LEED Silver target reflects a commitment to sustainability alongside resilience, and the structure’s flood‑aware design ensures it remains functional and accessible in future flood events.

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