Spring Street Salt Shed

What were the circumstances of receiving the commission for this project?
We were selected to design the Garage and Salt Shed through an open RFP process that encouraged design excellence. Dattner Architects and WXY architecture + urban design teamed together because of a shared commitment to bring design excellence to public projects and a passion for New York City.

Please provide an overview of the project.
The Spring Street Salt Shed is the sister project to the Manhattan Districts 1/2/5 Garage, completed at the same time on the adjacent site. The projects were commissioned by NYC Department of Sanitation, who now operates them. They are also a part of the NYC Department of Design & Construction’s portfolio of public projects.

What are the main ideas and inspirations influencing the design of the building?
The building form was inspired by the strong geometry of a salt crystal.

How does the design respond to the unique qualities of the site?
The building sits on a prominent site, along the west side of Manhattan – visible from the water, from Hudson River Park and from the heavily trafficked West Street. Behind it is a historic piece of heroic civic infrastructure – the vent shaft for the Holland Tunnel. The much smaller Salt Shed holds its own on the site. Its strong, sculptural form, honest materials, and dramatic lighting accept the urban fabric.

How did the project change between the initial design stage and the completion of the building?
The building design went through a number of iterations. Originally the program was housed within the garage. When it was moved to the southern site, it allowed for a freedom of expression, and the collaboration between the design architects, the clients, and even the Public Design Commission allowed for an exploration of a series of forms. In the end, the building was designed to be a counter point to the long rectilinear form of the garage, with its scrim-like façade. The salt shed is a sculptural object, elemental, and somehow raw and precious at the same time. The building was constructed as designed.

Was the project influenced by any trends in energy-conservation, construction, or design?
Architectural Concrete with a crystalline waterproofing admixture was used as both the structure and final finish of the building, contributing to the use of fewer materials and providing a robust and lasting envelope to stand up to the corrosive nature of the program over the life of the building.

Email interview conducted by John Hill.