Temporary Waterfalls as Art Was Lengthy Work in Progress
New York City’s $15.5-million Waterfalls Project may be a work of art that has perked up the aging East River waterfront, at least temporarily this summer, but for its engineer and contractor, it was like any other tough job in the Big Apple.
It was no simple feat turning artist Olafur Eliasson’s concept into the four 120-ft-tall freestanding structures that pour millions of gallons of water in tumbling cascades from four locations between Manhattan and Brooklyn. What has been hailed as brilliant art since its June debut required months of permitting and countless decisions on site selection, materials and subcontractors, all under the artist’s careful watch. “There is no manual for a project like this” says Tom Hoban, senior vice president at New York City-based Tishman Realty & Construction Co. Inc., the construction manager. “For the past two years, we met regularly with the artist to discuss design solutions to complete his vision.”