George Washington Bridge Bus Station Renovation, GWBBS New York, Washington Heights Architecture
George Washington Bridge Bus Station Renovation
GWBBS Building in Northern Manhattan, New York, NY, USA design by Dr. Pier Luigi Nervi
Apr 14, 2016
George Washington Bridge Bus Station Refurbishment
George Washington Bridge Bus Station Building Renovation
Original Design: Dr. Pier Luigi Nervi
GWBBS Redevelopment Project – public-private partnership
Port Authority + private developer, GWBBS Development Venture (DV), comprised of SJM Partners and Slayton Ventures.
Back in October of 2014, multiple retail tenants were revealed for spaces in the renovated George Washington Bridge Bus Station, located in between West 178th Street and West 179th Street in Washington Heights. At the time, it was set to fully open in 2015, reports newyorkyimby.com.
image from architects
Construction on the terminal has been further delayed, pushing the opening date to December of 2016, according to DNAinfo. The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey and a partnership between SJM Partners and Slayton Ventures expects portions of the terminal to open to the public in phases, with tenants moved in before 2017.
The property will see its retail space expanded from 30,000 to 120,000 square feet across three levels, and retailers include GAP, Marshalls, Blink Fitness, Buffalo Wild Wings, Café 178th Street, Time Warner, GWB Juice Bar, VS Berry Frozen Yogurt, First Financial, and many other shops, eateries, and services. The terminal currently serves to connect NJ Transit buses and other carriers to the A/1 subways and MTA buses.
photograph courtesy wikimedia commons ; By Beyond My Ken – Own work, GFDL, http://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30092976
Background
The George Washington Bridge Bus Station (GWBBS), which opened on January 17, 1963, was designed by Dr. Pier Luigi Nervi, the noted Italian engineer-architect of the 1960 Olympic Stadium in Rome and other world-renowned structures, reports www.panynj.gov. The bus station received the Concrete Industry Board’s 1963 award as the structure in the metropolitan area that represents the best in conception, originality and applicability of concrete, both in design and construction.
The station is built over the Trans-Manhattan Expressway (Interstate 95) between 178th and 179th Streets and Fort Washington and Wadsworth Avenues and features direct bus ramps on and off the upper level of the George Washington Bridge. In 2014, close to five million passengers on 337,000 bus trips passed through the station.
image from architects studio
Improved Facility and Bus Operations
This is the most significant construction project at the bus station since it first opened in 1963.
The new station will include a modern, ADA compliant, fully enclosed, air conditioned passenger pavilion and a reconfigured bus concourse, all directly accessible from the street and subway levels. The pavilion will house a spacious waiting area, ticketing, information and restrooms, and will provide passengers direct views of the George Washington Bridge from one side and arriving and departing buses from the other. A state-of-the art passenger information system will be available throughout the facility.
A New Shopping Destination
Bus operations will be consolidated to the roof top level, opening up the lower levels for the development of the GWBBS Mercado – over 120,000 square feet of new retail space. The Mercado will feature an array of first class national and local retail, with a range of food and service options for commuters, and all those who live and work in Washington Heights and neighboring communities.
photo courtesy wikimedia commons, taken by Beyond My Ken – Own work, GFDL, http://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33034258
A Public/Private Investment in Redevelopment
The GWBBS Redevelopment Project is a public-private partnership (P3) between the Port Authority and a private developer, the GWBBS Development Venture (DV), which is comprised of SJM Partners and Slayton Ventures. The DV and the Port Authority share the cost of this $183.2 million project. The DV is responsible for the construction of both the retail and the bus project components. Upon completion, the DV will operate and maintain the retail space and the Port Authority will operate and maintain the bus operations.
The Benefits
This project is expected to result in 324 direct job-years and direct payroll wages of $19 million. It will generate $31.7 million in total regional economic activity
Location: Columbia University Medical Center, Washington Heights, New York City, USA
New York City Architecture
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Washington Heights Architecture
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Website: George Washington Bridge Bus Station in Washington Heights
Pier Luigi Nervi – Key Projects
Featured Buildings by Pier Luigi Nervi
Australian Embassy Building, Paris, France
1978
Architects: Harry Seidler, with Marcel Breuer and Pier Luigi Nervi
Australian Embassy Building Paris
Palazzetto dello Sport, Rome, Italy
1958
Palazzetto dello Sport Roma
Maison de L’UNESCO / UNESCO Building, Paris VIIe, France
1958
Design: Marcel Breuer & Pier Luigi Nervi, Architects
Website: Washington Heights, Manhattan
New York City Center
Design: Ennead Architects
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