The Environmental Simulation Center was one of four primary consultants for the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation's Greenwich Street South Urban Design Plan (along with WXY Architects, The Olin Partnership and the prime consultant H3HC). 

To assist the team with its work, the ESC developed a highly detailed, topographically accurate, 3D CAD model and a photorealistic, real-time simulation of the area which was used to simulate Alternative Development and Urban Design Scenarios for the client, developer focus groups, and the public.  The ESC collected and maintained the database for the study and performed detailed analyses including: over-built/under-built analyses on a site-by-site basis, identifying soft sites, and commercial sites ideally suited to residential conversion.  The ESC also conducted shadow analyses to best determine the location and size of significant public open space and made a significant contribution to the ultimate design proposed for the area, including:

• The development of the concept of a scaled park spanning the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel that could be accessed at grade at Greenwich Street, which provided a direct connection from Battery Park City to public transit at Greenwich and Church Streets.
• The identification of a Conservation Area with its small scale structures and uses linking the Greenwich Street South area to its historic development pattern.
• The re-introduction of the historic street pattern, broken by the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel approach roads and the re-configuration of the approach roads.

• The ESC developed the zoning implementation plan that included:

• A detailed zoning analysis and recommendations on how New York City's land-use regulation could be used to implement the Plan.
• The concept of district-wide zoning permitting the TDR of unused floor area from the Conservation Area to the Redevelopment Area over and adjacent to the Tunnel access roads.
   

Please click the picture for switching the images

Screen shots from the interactive real-time 3D model used during the design phase of the Greenwich Street South Urban Design Plan. The first image shows existing conditions—the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel entrance and a parking structure spanning the approach. The second image shows the proposed alternative, which decks over the tunnel entrance, replaces the garage with a park and new residential towers, and restores the historic street system, which was interrupted by the tunnel entrance.

The ESC's 3D-GIS analysis techniques were used to examine overbuilt and underbuilt properties to highlight development opportunities.