Manhattan’s Chinatown is a vital hub of Chinese American culture. To help improve the public realm and revitalize the roadway infrastructure of this bustling, historic area, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) is undertaking the $55 million Chinatown Connections program.

EnTech served as a geotechnical and environmental engineering subconsultant on the design team for two projects within the overall Chinatown Connections effort: the reconstruction of Chatham Square and the construction of a Chinatown Welcome Gateway. Chatham Square lies at the confluence of eight roads and contains within it the Kimlau Square memorial plaza. The project will redesign Chatham Square and realign the plaza to improve navigation of the site for pedestrians, bicycles, and motorists. It will simplify the convoluted existing traffic pattern, expand pedestrian spaces, and decrease the lengths of crosswalks to improve safety. A Chinatown Welcome Gateway will be erected at the reconstructed site to demarcate this key entrance to Chinatown and highlight the neighborhood’s cultural heritage.

EnTech’s geotechnical team planned and executed a geotechnical investigation. The team prepared a subsurface work plan and managed the on-site investigation, after which they prepared  a detailed geotechnical report including soil characteristics, subgrade recommendations, construction recommendations, and more.

EnTech’s environmental team planned and conducted a hazardous materials investigation for areas that will be disturbed by construction, and developed a hazmat survey report with their findings and recommendations for abatement. The firm additionally completed both a Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA), including developing recommendations for the handling and disposal of soil and waste during construction.