The East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) Project is a coastal protection initiative, jointly funded by the City of New York and the federal government, aimed at reducing flood risk due to coastal storms and sea level rise on Manhattan's East Side. The project design integrates flood protection into the community fabric, improving waterfront open spaces and access. Construction on the East Side Coastal Resiliency project began in Fall 2020 and will continue through 2026.

THE IMPACT

• ESCR is a $1.45-billion climate resiliency project that will provide flood protection and improve open spaces for more than 110,000 New Yorkers, including 28,000 residents in NYCHA housing. This is especially significant for neighborhoods in the ESCR project area that were severely impacted by Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
• In August 2022, the ESCR Project was selected to receive an "Envision Gold Award" for sustainability from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI). The Envision sustainable infrastructure framework assesses project sustainability across five categories: Quality of Life, Leadership, Resource Allocation, Natural World and Climate and Resilience.

THE SOLUTION
 

• Ductal Structural Engineered Solutions emerged as the optimal innovative concrete for this project. Its superior mechanical and durability properties compared to conventional concrete made it the perfect choice. Its fresh properties, oftentimes including self-consolidation, allow it to be an ideal match for field construction with prefabricated components. Its unparalleled strength, durability, and low permeability will ensure longevity and minimize maintenance requirements.
• Ductal’s team commitment to excellence drove us to optimize our mix design to adhere to the highest standards of environmental stewardship. UHPC has excellent durability and resistance to damage from most environmental factors such as freeze-thaw cycles, chemical exposure, and abrasion. This means that structures made with UHPC can last much longer and require less to no maintenance over time, eliminating the need for replacement and associated environmental impacts.
• Ductal’s collaboration with IPC Resiliency Partners is making this project a blueprint for other waterfront cities in the US.