Ferry Point Park Public Restroom

At the edge of an active 9.5-acre park on prime waterfront, Ferry Point Park offers unparalleled views of the East River, Long Island Sound, and the Manhattan skyline. The new 800 sf public restroom acts as a front porch facing both the waterfront views and overlooking fields for soccer and football, a children’s play area and pedestrian trails. The building is raised to accommodate the site’s location within a floodplain. The broad stairs invite sitting and picnicking, and the large curved roof frames a space that suggests a stage, welcoming park visitors to make the space their own.

The comfort station was designed as part of a NYC Parks Department Requirements Contract, among several small service structures in city parks throughout the five boroughs. Issues of durability/minimal maintenance, public safety, cost consciousness and energy efficiency were strong design determinants. The design uses utilitarian materials – standing seam and corrugated metal for their easy maintenance and low cost, but in a way that elevates them to reflect civic importance. The white building reflects the sky and serves as a background for seasonally changing plantings.

Photos by Pavel Bendov