SOM connects block-long glulam bridge to the Excessive Line

World structure studio SOM has put in a block-long timber truss bridge known as Timber Bridge, which connects Manhattan’s Excessive Line to the renovated Penn Station.

Designed by international studio Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM), the 128-ton, two-section, Warren truss bridge was constructed out of glued-laminated timber (glulam), an engineered wooden product made by combining a number of smaller items, which is able to supporting massive buildings.

The 300-foot (92 metre) lengthy bridge is a part of the Moynihan Connector, which connects the Excessive Line, an elevated walkway in Manhattan, to the Moynihan Practice Corridor transit hub.

The bridge was lifted onto Y-shaped metal columns rising 25 toes above Dyer Avenue on the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel.

“This structural answer requires minimal connections to the bottom, permitting the prevailing roads to stay undisturbed and maximizing using renewable supplies,” SOM stated.

“The dynamic visible panorama permits pedestrians to see the timber construction rise over the diagonal pathway and creates a visible hyperlink to the timber from Magnolia Courtroom,” SOM stated.

“This answer establishes a way of place and guides pedestrians to their locations on each side of the Connector.”

The total Moynihan Connector venture contains two bridges that kind a union with a landscaped park by James Nook Discipline Operations. The 2 bridges sew collectively quite a lot of elevated public areas.

They lengthen the present terminus of the Excessive Line by means of an present public plaza within the Manhattan West growth to the transit hub of Moynihan Practice Corridor and Penn Station.

The second bridge is named the Woodlands Bridge and connects at a 90-degree angle and runs alongside thirtieth Road to The Spur of the Excessive Line.

Composed of five-foot-deep precast concrete containers set on uncovered weathered metal columns with angled brackets, the Woodlands Bridge introduces immersive landscaping to the general public amenity. The containers maintain timber and in depth plantings in numerous soil depths alongside a diagonal pathway.

The timber are organized to ascend from shortest to tallest from east to west on one facet of the bridge and in reverse order alongside the opposite facet.

Each bridges have Corten metal decking and bronze handrails, however have “distinct identities” in accordance with SOM Design Principal Kim Van Holsbeke, who additionally famous that they “develop the Excessive Line’s wealthy tapestry of experiences”.

The Moynihan Connector is a $50 million public-private partnership between Pals of the Excessive Line, a neighborhood advocacy group, and Empire State Growth and Brookfield Properties. The Excessive Line reworked a Nineteen Thirties elevated prepare platform right into a walkable public area.

The Moynihan Connector is ready to open in June 2023, practically 15 years since structure studio Diller Scofidio + Renfro and James Nook Discipline Operations accomplished the primary part of the walkway.

The bridge is the fourth SOM venture within the neighbourhood. The studio transformed the 1913 Farley Put up workplace constructing into Moynihan Practice Corridor at Penn Station, created the 1,000-foot combined use venture at 35 Hudson Yards, and designed and grasp deliberate the seven million-square foot Manhattan West growth.

The images is by Andrew Frasz and Jonathan Morefield / Discipline Situation.