The project to reenvision the site of the pool and rink at the Harlem Meer has completely transformed an area in Central Park marred by the 1960s addition of a massive recreation facility that severely impacted the historic landscape. The capstone of a decades-long effort to restore the Park, the $160 million initiative to redevelop the 8-acre site and replace the former facility with the new Davis Center at the Harlem Meer is the most ambitious and complex undertaking in the Park since its construction more than a century and a half ago.

Constructed in the 1960s without regard for the extraordinary significance and value of the Park landscape, Lasker Pool and Rink disrupted the scenic experience that is the Park’s essential purpose. The effort to reverse its impact was inspired by Olmsted and Vaux’s original vision for the Park and their approach toward working with natural topography and integrating architecture into the landscape. Built into the topography of the site, the Davis Center shifts the volume of the facility into the slope on the east side of a ravine connecting the Harlem Meer and North Woods. The reconstituted landscape extends across the structure, seamlessly blending the facility into its natural setting and creating a scenic overlook with views of the surrounding landscape and an outdoor room that transforms seasonally, from swimming pool to park green to skating rink. Located beneath the overlook is a light-filled gathering space that opens onto the outdoor space.

Underpinning the transformation is an approach grounded in an understanding of the relationship between landform and the experience of the park landscape. Extensive earthwork was required to extract the former facility and integrate the new one into the topography, repairing the disrupted hydrology and ecology and restoring the essential scenic experience. The project included daylighting of a watercourse that had been diverted to a culvert around the facility, and reconnecting disrupted pedestrian circulation. Where the watercourse flows into the Meer, wetland plantings enrich the scenic and ecological diversity of the transition from stream course to lake. Traversing these and continuing along the waters’ edge, a curvilinear boardwalk facilitates wildlife observation and fishing.

The integration of the facility into the landscape was equally essential to accomplishing the project goal of sustainable design. The landscape across the roof of the pavilion reconnects the disrupted park experience while enhancing the overall energy performance of the project. The pavilion incorporates passive climate control, and the use of natural and locally-sourced materials complements the park setting. The project was designed to achieve a LEED Gold rating and meet stringent new requirements for energy use in NYC-owned buildings.