Oct 7 2015
HLW International LLP (HLW) is pleased to announce it has received a 2015 Building Brooklyn Award from the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and its Real Estate & Development Committee. HLW was recognized for its innovative work in Landscape and Open Space on Pratt's Engineering Quadrangle Campus Green Space.
Members of the Pratt Design Team and HLW International attended the July 21 awards ceremony held at the newly restored King's Theatre. The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce honored the redesign and rebuild of the approximately 40,000 SF outdoor space located at the heart of the Pratt Institute's campus in Brooklyn, New York, for its ingenuity and progress in design and construction.
Working Together to Create a Unique Urban Space
HLW's team worked closely with Pratt Institute students throughout the design and construction phases of the project. Among the noted accomplishments, the quadrangle is credited with improving circulation in a dense urban environment and with creating a more cohesive campus setting. The redesign of the quadrangle established clear paths between buildings, as well as designated areas for outdoor classrooms and sitting nooks to enhance learning, socializing or unwinding.
An important objective of the project was to create open green area where students could come to enjoy a beloved space on campus. "In every way the students were the driving force behind this project, making this project unique in its level of client involvement," said Michael Tegnell, HLW Director of Planning and Urban Design. He added, "It was a joy to collaborate with the students and execute the vision they had for their college."
Preserving a Historical Campus Setting
The project aimed to improve foot traffic through the quad while maintaining pieces from Pratt's famous Sculpture Park as the focal point of the area. The project provided a new setting for these sculptures, allowing them to be integrated into the upgrade process.
Additionally, the project emphasized the preserving the feel of the campus' existing design elements, including paths, grating and contouring. Mr. Tegnell said, "Every tree on the quad was left undisturbed. It was important to us to work around and within the existing campus environment."