The Davis Center at the Harlem Meer

“An exuberant expression of joy in nature that brings intention and connection to the city’s oasis.” The Davis Center at the Harlem Meer was designed by Susan T Rodriguez | Architecture • Design, a New York City certified Women-Owned Business Enterprise and federally certified Women-Owned Small Business, and Mitchell Giurgola Architects, in collaboration with the Central Park Conservancy. The project reflects the leadership of women across the design and consulting teams and embodies a shared commitment to transforming the northern end of Central Park into a vital community resource. The Davis Center creates a new recreational experience integrated into the topography of Central Park that is accessible to the public year-round–a pool in summer, rink in winter and open lawn in spring and fall–three facilities in one. The project replaces Lasker Rink, a deteriorated 1960’s facility that blocked access to the rest of the Park for the Harlem community. Inspired by the visionary design of the landmarked park and the tradition of fusing architecture and landscape, the new building sits within the curvilinear geometry of the historic Park Drive. Integrated into the steep topography of the site, the design seamlessly blends the building into the Park’s natural setting with the landscape and park pathways extending across a green roof that covers the entire building. This creates a scenic overlook with views of the surrounding landscape and a monumental outdoor room that transforms seasonally. Beneath the building’s green roof is a light-filled interior gathering space that opens onto the outdoor room. During warmer weather, center-pivot floor-to-ceiling glass doors open along the entire length of the space. Conceived as a full transformation of the site, the design reconstitutes the historic watercourse and pedestrian connection to the Park’s southern end and introduces a boardwalk along the adjacent Meer shoreline. Underpinning the renewal of the site is a sustainable design strategy that repairs the damaged park ecology, hydrology and circulation.