Greg Schnackel joined SHoP Architects, The Howard Hughes Corporation, and other guests at the Pier 17 Groundbreaking Ceremony.

On October 17th, Greg Schnackel joined SHoP Architects, The Howard Hughes Corporation, and other guests at the Pier17 Groundbreaking Ceremony. The ceremony took place on the north side of the pier at the Beekman Beer Garden. In order to get there, guests were escorted in golf carts down a blue carpet ride that took them from South Street to Pier 17. During this 30 second thrill ride, guests were shown new renderings of the future 300,000 sq. ft. Pier 17 complex, a 1.5 acre new public rooftop, and a venue for special events called Platform 17. After a few speeches and an “over-the-top” CGI video, developers, architects and city officials grabbed a hold of their shovels and started the groundbreaking ceremony. Since no work has commenced yet, a pile of dirt was transported to make it seem like a real groundbreaking.

There will be lots of cool projects developing at the new Pier 17 and Schnackel Engineers is excited to be a part of this amazing redevelopment project. “You’re going to have an offering of entertainment, culture, food offerings and retail,” David Weinreb, CEO of developer The Howard Hughes Corporation said. “The new Pier 17 will inject the Seaport with new life and fresh energy,” said Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. “It will bring new retail, entertainment and open space to one of the city’s most popular tourist destinations – right in the heart of one of the city’s fastest-growing residential neighborhoods. The investment by The Howard Hughes Corporation will bring even more visitors to the Seaport and more revenue to the city – and it’ll make one of New York’s most scenic sites even more attractive.” Developers said the new Seaport, slated to open in 2016, will drive the neighborhood’s post-Sandy recovery.

Watch SEE/CHANGE – Pier 17 Groundbreaking Ceremony and catch a quick clip of our very own Greg Schnackel!