"It's been a long time coming," said Tamara Coombs, chairwoman of the Ferry Riders Committee of the St. George Civic Association. "It really transforms a large part of the experience."

"It's more than transportation, it's a floating public space," Coombs said. "They save seats for each other, they plan birthdays and weddings. It's also a great pickup spot. It's also a symbol of the borough."

Working with the existing structure, HOK designed a 350-foot arch facing Staten Island, to be illuminated at night as an artistic reference to the borough's bridges.

"The idea was to create as many modern interventions as we could," said Kenneth Drucker, a design partner at HOK. "The challenge was to reuse as much of the existing structure as possible."

Confined to the building's existing footprint, the designers raised the roof of the main waiting chamber about 20 feet on average, adding Y-shaped metal beams atop the support columns. Where tile had dominated the wall, they called for glass and metal, revealing views of sky and water.

The chamber's concrete floor became a seascape of greens and blues and aquamarines, mapping the ferry's route across the harbor.

Source: "A Brighter Look for Staten Island's Front Door," The New York Times, May 16, 2005, by Michael Brick. Read the article.

From the New York 1 TV segment:
"More light, open space, and glass windows that allow passengers to see coming boats – it's all part of a $132 million renovation at the St. George Ferry terminal meant to make riding the Staten Island Ferry more attractive."

"[We're trying] to have Staten Island become a destination that people are interested in coming to, a place when they take the ferry then they're welcome here," says Eve Michel of the Economic Development Corporation."

Source: "Renovated SI Ferry Terminal To Open In St. George On Friday," NY1, May 19, 2005, by Amanda Farinacci. Read the article.

From AIArchitect:
Architect HOK envisioned this terminal renovation—one in a series of five major ferry projects in and around New York City—as a focal point for area redevelopment. The goals for the new ferry include improving the island’s transport systems greatly, becoming a tourist destination in its own right, and ranking as one of the first LEED-certified intermodal transportation stations.

A public/private partnership—among the New York City Economic Development Corporation, the city’s Department of Transportation, construction manager Skanska, and HOK—expanded the refurbished terminal to accommodate ferry traffic, which has increased significantly since 9/11.

“The cumulative impact of the revitalization of the station and on adjacent sites to the south and north will have a profound effect on the local economy and on the local and regional perceptions of St. George and Staten Island,” said Kenneth H. Drucker, AIA, director of design in HOK’s New York City office. “The building previously lacked memorable spaces for commuters waiting for a ferry or as a destination for tourists. The design celebrates the arrival to Staten Island by providing improvements that will both enhance tourism and benefit citizens of Staten Island.”

Source: “Renovated Ferry Terminal Improves Manhattan Access for Staten Island,” AIArchitect, June 2005, by Heather Livingston.

From Engineering News-Record:
A newly rehabilitated terminal with intermodal connections serving passengers on New York City’s Staten Island Ferry is a crucial economic linchpin for Staten Island’s redevelopment. It also may be the first intermodal transportation hub to qualify for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification by the U.S. Green Buildings Council. Its designers are applying for silver certification.

The century-old brick, concrete and structural steel building received new terrazzo flooring and structural extensions about 80 ft to the north. The extensions include new outdoor terraces, enclosed hallways and a curved 40-ft-high curtain wall, 208 ft long x 100 ft deep, of aluminum and glass that allows waiting passengers to view the Hudson River. The extensions add some 8,000 additional sq ft of retail space to the existing 12,000 sq ft for such amenities as a new restaurant.

The centerpiece is a new 84-ft-tall, 320-ft-long white steel arched canopy supported by 10 cantilevered columns on the terminal’s new north terrace, serving as a gateway for visitors. "The objective was to make this a destination, not just a terminal," says Kenneth Drucker, design director for architect Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum, New York City.

Source: “Officials See Green In New Staten Island Ferry Station,” ENR, May 30, 2005. Read the article.

From Real Estate Weekly:
The terminal is the home of the Staten Island Ferry, a New York City icon and the commuter lifeline between Staten Island and Manhattan. The ferry ride is also a popular sightseeing excursion for over 1 million tourists each year to view the Statue of Liberty and other New York Harbor landmark. The modernized terminal will invite visitors to the many cultural attractions Staten Island has to offer and provide an access point to other waterfront attractions.

The terminal has an appealing mix of uses serving both the daily commuters and tourists. The dark and dingy main waiting area has been transformed into a soaring space with clerestory windows on all sides to let in natural light.

Source: “HOK Adds Drama to Ferry Terminal,” Real Estate Weekly, May 25, 2005.