Earlier this year, in partnership with Robin Key Landscape Architecture Studio, we made a submission for the Minds In The Gutter contest.

Sponsored by S.W.I.M Coalition and the New York City Environmental Fund, the Minds In The Gutter competition asked the following design question:

How do we utilize the existing 6K miles of roadway and accompanying 12K miles of sidewalk as an opportunity for stormwater management? The majority of roads are crowned, water flows some distance along a gutter adjacent to sidewalks and existing vegetation and escapes into a storm drain. What can we do with what we’ve got? Where is your intervention?

Our submission centered around restoring the natural hydrology of the original Minnetta Creek, a body of water that once existed along what is now Carmine Street in downtown New York City. Read our full poster submission here. The other submissions came from top-notch firms, including ARUP, New York City Department of Environmental Protection, and We Design, among others. We’re in fine company!

On April 7th (Earth Day — so apt!) there was an exhibit and panel discussion of the submissions at the Museum of the City of New York. We’re not sure when a winner will be announced, so stay tuned.