A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for a new flood protection system at NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan in East Harlem, New York. The floodwall project was initiated in 2016 following Hurricane Sandy to address the hospital’s flooding vulnerabilities given its close proximity to the East River. The floodwall varies in height from 8 to 12 feet and includes new entrance openings with resilient floodgates of up to 45 feet in width, enabling Metropolitan Hospital to withstand a one-in-500-year storm event. The Federal Emergency Management Agency funded the $112-million project. The project team included Group PMX, STV, Gilbane and Stantec.
Areas of the hospital exterior were reconfigured to support the flood mitigation system, while allowing for hospital functionality, public accessibility and emergency vehicle access. Improvements were made to protect loading docks, harden the mental health building walls and relocate hospital medical supply services. Additionally, construction teams installed new lighting, erosion controls, fire protections and security enhancements.
Improvements were also made to the hospital’s public spaces with the creation of a picnic area along First Avenue, in addition to new public seating and landscaping around the campus that creates a more welcoming environment. Artwork was incorporated into the design of the floodwall by local artist Miguel Luciano. The artwork, “Joy, Love and Resistance in El Barrio (2024),” features historic, celebratory images of East Harlem residents by photographer Hiram Maristany (1945-22).
