Pier 26: A Sustainable Overlook of the Hudson River

Overlooking the Hudson River, Pier 26 is a 2.5-acre pier that was completed in 2020. The pier took almost 20 years to fully complete but was well worth the wait. Designed by landscape architects, The OLIN Studio, and executed by general contractors, Steven Dubner Landscaping and Trevcon Construction; electrical contractor, EJ Electric; and construction manager, Gilbane Building Company.

Extending 800 feet into the water, Pier 26’s landscaped deck takes you on a short journey through the five different native ecological zones—a woodland forest, coastal grassland, maritime scrub, rocky tidal zone, and the Hudson River.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hudson River Park Trust wanted to give the people of New York an excellent place to go outside and enjoy what the Hudson River has to offer. The Hudson River Park was on a mission to make the hundreds of miles of coastline more accessible, and the reconstruction of Pier 26 was certainly a step in the right direction. The pier was dedicated to educating the local community about the previous ecosystems that once covered the island of Manhattan.

Tillett Lighting stated that “Lighting Pier 26 provided a unique challenge: Balance the needs of visitors for safety and pleasure while supporting the pier’s commitment to protecting ecological habitat. Of special concern was preventing light trespass at the water’s edge. Carefully placed and shielded fixtures protect fish life and other species while providing an imaginative and restorative nighttime experience.” The project is completed with 26 of WE-EF’s PFL230 LED luminaires.

Pier 26 has been awarded for their beautiful landscapes. The pier has been awarded “2021 Municipal Art Society Masterworks Award: Best Urban Landscape” as well as the “2020 Untapped New York’s Best of New York: Best New Park”.

Client: Hudson River Park Trust
Landscape Architect: OLIN Studio
Lighting Designer: Tillett Lighting
Photos: Ilir Rizaj Photography