10. The Site Was Elevated with Rock from the Second Avenue Subway Construction

The Recycling Education Center at the Sunset Park Material Recovery Facility

Before Hurricane Sandy, Sims decided to build the facility above the FEMA 100 year flood level requirements, elevating portions of the site by four feet, including all buildings, high voltage electrical gear, scales and recycling equipment. As a result, there was no damage during Hurricane Sandy, apart from non essential equipment that had moved around. The material used to raise the level of the site included both recycled glass and crushed rock from the construction of the Second Avenue subway line. In addition, stormwater is managed on-site, with a gravity-based stormwater system using landscape features, bio-swales and a retention pond.

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