Precision Precast

Box Culvert Performs in New York City

[Photo by Frank Oudeman 2010©]

Figure 1 Photo shows completed Burling Slip “Imagination Playground” in Lower Manhattan, NYC in use by residents. One side of the figure-eight playground layout contains sand and the other side sports a water feature; the sand and water are reminders of the sea and shore elements of the historic seaport location.

[Photo by Frank Oudeman 2010©]

Figure 2 Hydrostatic testing of the precast culvert assembly was conducted by an independent agency at Garden State Precast’s New Jersey facility.

[Photo by Frank Oudeman 2010©]

[Photos courtesy of Garden State Precast (Fig. 3a) and Scott Lander, Hamilton Kent LLC (Fig. 3b)]

Figures 3a and 3b In combination with radius corners, the single-offset joint box culvert design offered the advantages of watertight gasket connections and reduced installation time for the contractor.

[Photos courtesy of Garden State Precast (Fig. 3a) and Scott Lander, Hamilton Kent LLC (Fig. 3b)]

[Photos courtesy of Scott Lander, Hamilton Kent LLC]

Figures 4a and 4b Photo with Scott Lander of Hamilton Kent illustrates the tight space for lowering the precast and the tongue-and- groove shoring with cross beams used to support the walls against the high water table and earth loads.

[Photos courtesy of Scott Lander, Hamilton Kent LLC]

[Line art courtesy: Rockwell Group]

Architectural drawing Designed in a ship-like shape, the new Imagination Playground is meant to be reminiscent of the site’s original port.

 The high water table beneath the historic South Street Seaport district of lower Manhattan at the site of the newly-opened Imagination Playground, provided an ideal case study for the watertightness of precast concrete box culvert combined-sewer system.

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Issue 04-2022/2022