|
|
Solutions From Concept To Completion
Structural Engineering
Site Solutions From Concept To Completion
Civil Engineering
Solutions Where Land Meets Water
Marine + Coastal
Solutions From Procurement To Completion
Construction Engineering
Structural + Mechanical Specialists
Entertainment Engineering
Consultation, Design + Inspection
Facade + Building Envelope
Soil + Foundation
Geotechnical Engineering
Investigation + Litigation Support
Forensic Engineering
Live Performances
Museums + Art Displays
Pop-Ups
Signage
Studios + Sound Stages
TV + Film Production
Theaters
Theme Parks + Playplaces
Education
Colleges + Universities
Private + Specialty Schools
Public K-12
Energy
Solar Energy
Transmission Infrastructure
Wind Energy
Oil + Gas
Municipal
State
Federal
Senior Care
Hospitals
Outpatient Facilities
Heavy Industrial
Warehouse + Distribution Centers
Industrial Ports + Terminals
Berths, Piers + Wharves
Bulkheads
Ferry Landings, Ship Terminals
Floating Structures
Ports + Terminals
Marinas + Breakwaters
Transfer Stations
Bikeways + Trails
Esplanades
Garage + Parking Facilities
Parks + Public Spaces
Recreational Spaces
Streetscapes
Utility Infrastructure
Commercial
Community Facilities
Mixed-Use
Multifamily Residential
Airports
Bridges
Ports + Terminals
Rail Transportation
Roads + Highways
Ropeway + Linear Infrastructure
Sort Projects By
Floating Harbor Wetland
Albany Warehouse Drone Inspection + 3D Digital Twin Modeling
416 + 420 Kent Dynamic Highrise
Wittpenn Bridge
Tiffany Crane
Orlando Airport LED Displays
NYC Ferry
TSX Broadway
Multimodal Processing Plant
Grassy Point Road Bridge Replacement
LaGuardia Airport Terminal B
A leading full-service engineering firm renowned for our trusted, high quality, and innovative approach to solving complex challenges.
Sort News By

Restored Fountain of the Fairs

When the 1964 World’s Fair made its way to Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens NY, an iconic Unisphere took center stage to symbolize the world’s entrance into the space age. Between this massive steel earth and Fountain of the Planets, lies the historic reflecting pools and Fountain of the Fairs. These water features were seriously damaged during Hurricane Sandy and in disrepair until a recent $6.8 million upgrade restored them to their full glory.

Multidivisional Services

McLaren Engineering Group’s multidisciplinary teams provided survey, civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering and construction support for the renovation and adaptive re-use of the historic landmark reimagined by NYC Parks.

To help keep the original footprint, dimensions, and design but integrate new resilient infrastructure and additional water features, our team provided detailed condition assessments, geotechnical investigations, structural analysis, and design for the new framed concrete slab over the existing pools. We also engineered various water supply and drainage/utility structures, designing the storm sewer system and subsurface drainage layouts.

Settlement of the Restored Fountain

The new design of the restored fountain added extensive weight to the existing pool. In order to prevent settling new concrete slab, pavers, pipes, and concrete masonry unit walls were installed. This enabled the whole structure to act as one big monolithic mass allowing it to settle evenly and not cause issues like tripping hazards. The restored fountain is supported by 40 transverse CMU block walls and two longitudinal walls that vary in height from 1 ft, 3 in. to 2 ft, 3 in., depending on their locations along the pool. The surface of the fountain consists of pavers over a 6 in. thick concrete slab. Everything below is filled in with gravel. In all, the new fountain includes 1.8 mi of water pipes up to 8 in. in diameter.

Another challenge was to make sure the water could drain at the lowest level of the fountain. McLaren engineered the CMU block walls to have weep holes along the base, reducing the possibility of water collecting at the bottom of the pool. The original base of the fountain still slopes to the center, and at the center — running the length — is a perforated pipe to drain excess water. McLaren also added some extra grading to improve the slope a bit more. The pool slopes lengthwise from the west to east as it steps down, with the east end approximately 3 ft, 7 in. lower than the west.

Awards

Award Winner
Location
Queens, NY
Year Completed
2020
Client
NYC Parks

Image Credit for Image 2: Quennell Rothschild & Partners