New community space opens at Wagner Park Pavilion in Battery Park City
Images courtesy of Battery Park City Authority
A new community space with sweeping views of New York Harbor opened Monday at the Pavilion in Battery Park City’s Wagner Park. Dubbed “The Classroom,” the 1,200-square-foot space is designed for public engagements, private rentals, catered events, and business meetings. The addition marks the latest phase of Wagner Park Pavilion’s revitalization, following a two-year overhaul that included reopening the park in July, after elevating it by 10 feet and incorporating hidden flood protection measures as part of a nearly $300 million project.
The space’s cavernous interior provides a striking setting for events and gatherings. Large windows offer views of the Hudson River, the Statue of Liberty, and sunsets over the New Jersey horizon.
Designed to be versatile and customizable, the space contains modular equipment that can be arranged in a wide variety of ways for events. Equipment includes 90 chairs, 20 tables, a lectern, three stage pieces, and children’s chairs and tables.
“The Classroom will provide our community with a beautiful new space to convene, whether for meetings, events, art exhibitions or programming,” Raju Mann, president and CEO of the BPCA said. “This important step toward the full opening of the Wagner Park Pavilion underscores that our commitment to creating a more resilient Lower Manhattan goes hand in hand with our dedication to creating pristine spaces for New Yorkers to enjoy.”
The AV system includes ceiling-mounted loudspeakers, wired and wireless microphones, a ceiling-mounted projection screen, a 98-inch portable video monitor, and a flexible lighting system.
Marking the latest phase of Wagner Park’s reopening, the park reopened in July following a two-year project that implemented a comprehensive flood risk reduction system, including both passive and deployable measures. The system is designed to withstand a 100-year storm and protect against severe storms through the 2050s, based on anticipated sea level rise, as 6sqft previously reported.
Designed by AECOM in partnership with the Battery Park City Authority (BPCA), the park now features an integrated flood barrier system seamlessly incorporated into the landscape. It also includes an upgraded stormwater management system that uses grading to direct water into a system that maximizes rainwater capture and reuse.
The new park has earned Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines verification from the Waterfront Alliance, the gold standard for resilient, ecological, and accessible waterfront design.
The park also includes a new Pavilion, designed by Thomas Phifer and Partners, accessible from Battery Place via two sloped gardens or from the waterside esplanade using accessible ramps and stairs. Arched vaults lead to an entry piazza with sweeping views of the green space and harbor.
The Pavilion is also expected to achieve high sustainability standards, with plans to earn ILFI Net-Zero Carbon Certification. Its design incorporates geothermal heating and cooling, stormwater reclamation systems, LED lighting and occupancy sensors, operable window shades, high-performance glazing, a highly insulated building envelope, low-flow fixtures, energy recovery ventilation, and recycled building materials.
The Pavilion is opening in phases, with a rooftop garden already open. A new restaurant is also expected to debut this year, replacing Gigino, the Italian restaurant that has operated there since 1999.
Applications to rent the space are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A security deposit and a single-day certificate of liability insurance are required for all rentals.
Rates are as follows: $250 for a one-hour event (30 minutes for setup and 30 minutes for breakdown); $500 for a two-hour event (one hour for setup and one hour for breakdown); and $125 for each additional hour.
Reduced rates may be available for nonprofits, government agencies, and events serving the greater Battery Park City community.
The revitalization of Wagner Park is part of the broader Battery Coastal Resiliency project, an ambitious effort to protect Lower Manhattan from climate change. Work on the $200 million initiative began in May 2024 and is expected to safeguard 100,000 residents, 300,000 jobs, and 12,000 businesses in the area, as 6sqft previously reported.
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