The document proposes programming, structures, and design elements for a Maritime Education & Recreation Center (MERC) at Governor's Island. It recommends focusing on educating visitors about the local environment, history, and ways to interact with it through hands-on experiences like touch tanks. Unique structures like an indoor river habitat and glass elevator are suggested to enhance the experience while accomplishing educational objectives. Floor plans, precedents, and renderings provide details on the proposed MERC center.

1. Maritime Education & Recreation Center at Governor’s Island The Kinky Oysters Number 1 M.E.R.C THE

2. The MERC on Governor’s Island What kind of programming should the Harbor School’s MERC seek to provide? - A program, which at its core, is dedicated to educating students and visitors about the local environment, its history, ways to ensure its future, and fun ways to interact with it How can the MERC interact with its students and visitors most effectively? - By offering attractions such as touch tanks that allow students and visitors an opportunity to interact with local maritime species free of charge. And also by offering New Yorker’s a innovative ways to access “their” Upper Harbor...including SCUBA diving, kayaking, and sailing How can the Harbor School’s MERC foster a more meaningful relationship with its students, its visitors, and the Upper Bay? - By focusing on the local environment and teaching New Yorkers how they can help to conserve the ecosystems that the school is working to protect and cultivate. Connecting New Yorker’s to their surroundings will help forge a more meaningful relationship with the environment. What unique structures can the Harbor School introduce in order to accomplish the above objectives and to help enhance the experience of its students and its visitors, and the spectacle of the island? - An indoor river will provide valuable habitat space for oysters and maritime vegetation while cleaning Harbor water that is pumped from the Bay. An exterior glass elevator will provide a visual landmark for the school while reflecting the natural aesthetic of the Harbor School’s location

3. Site Plan North

4. MERC Floor Plans First Floor Plan : N - Steps down after indoor river for grade change - Boat Building in “right hub” opens directly onto docks - Scuba Station in “left hub” - Elevator at center of docks and bathroom to the right - Touch and feel tanks for public - Aquarium wall (top wall in plan) - Gift Shop before stairs to second level - Indoor river crossed via stone walkway Indoor River Oyster Habitat Touch & Feel Tanks Tanks Facing Esplanade Lab Space Wheelchair Access Scuba Facility Boat Building Station Aquaculture Tanks Boat Storage Floating Transparent Docks Small Tanks in Harbor 30’ 200’ 30’ 50’ 250’

5. MERC Floor Plans cont’d Second Floor Plan: N - Elevator opens to walkway - Offices spaces - Classroom spaces that open up into balcony - Walkway over Indoor River to reach Offices Office Space Office Space Classroom Space Classroom Space 200’ 50’

7. Northwestern Section (Looking Southeast) Eastern Section (top) and Western Section

9. Precedents & Prominent Features Touch tanks Open staircases Dock/Boat slips Cheong Gye Chong river offers possibilities for indoor river habitat Wall aquarium will lure passers-by and enthuse Harbor School visitors Touch tanks allow visitors to interact with and learn about local wildlife Spiral glass staircase maintains open interior space and creates a unique aesthetic inspiration for students and visitors SCUBA Space Stones across river Wall aquarium Of the MERC’s First Floor... “ Droplet” elevator references school’s proximity to water and creates visual landmark Boat Lift/Storage First Floor Plan

10. Precedents & Prominent Features Of the MERC’s Second Floor... Fully outfitted classrooms with views out onto the harbor A catwalk keeps the interior space open wand allows students overhead views of the first floor river habitat Two-story indoor waterfall recycles gray water through the indoor river Windows onto the harbor provide spectacular and inspirational views of NYC and the harbor Catwalk Classroom space & Windows onto the harbor 2nd story waterfall Views to 1 st floor Alternate egress from roof Second Floor Plan

11. Precedents & Prominent Features A green urban roof will provide increased habitat, cost effective insulation, and an area for rainwater catchment A rooftop café for hungry visitors will provide spectacular views of NY Harbor and also boost revenue A rooftop theatre will increase revenues and reconnect New Yorkers with their natural environment A cross-section of the green roof membrane Glass ceilings allow sunlight into the river below Resting areas and seating areas for the theater Of the MERC’s Roof... Roof Plan

14. Renderings... A view of the MERC from Brooklyn The MERC’s indoor river and second level

15. More... A look at the MERC from above Front view of the MERC

16. More... Looking along the second floor balcony

17. More...

18. Water Usage Indoor River Flow Analysis Closed circuit with Tide Water Tank: 3m X 6.7m X 6.7m = 134.67 m 3 Indoor River: .6m X 3m X 27.4m = 49.32 m 3 At Low Tide… At High Tide... Empties into New York Harbor Harbor water refills Tide Water Tank

19. Green Roof Rainwater Catchment 532.357 m 3 per year Low Flush Toilets: 1.6 Gallons per Flush = .00606 m 3 200 uses a day = 442.088 m3 per year Touch Tanks and Sinks: 30 m 3 daily Clean City Water Gray Water Usage cont’d *excess water from the Green roof will be directed into the indoor river Green Roof New York City Average Yearly Rainfall: 49 inches Applying the Existing Water Flow from NYC...

20. Energy Specifications Walls (using Polyiso Foam)……………………………………………………**R-Value of 44.28 ** Windows (Triple-pane windows with argon gas)…………………………**R-Value of 5.88 ** Fish Tank (wall aquarium)…………………………………………………**R-Value of 16.69 ** Green Roof …………………………………………………………………**R-Value of 60 ** Heat Loss (using U-values, U=1/R)………………………………………** 17,904.84 BTU/(day*deg. F)** Heat Load (How much energy will we need?)…………………………** 25,187.48 kWh/yr**

21. Phasing Overview Green Roof with Skylights, Touch Tanks, First Floor Fish Tank Wall, Indoor River Construction Cost: $1,298,474 Annual Heating Use: 177,502 kWh Annual Heating Cost: $34,062 Phase 3 $7,021,351 Total Cost Boat Building Workshop, Scuba Shed, Second Floor with Deck, Fire Escape, Elevator Construction Cost: $3,747,877 Annual Heating Use: 166,117 kWh Annual Heating Cost: $31,877 Phase 2 Renovate Current MAST building first floor (~7,000sqft), add dock Construction Estimate ($275/sf renovation): $1,975,000 Annual Heating Use: 158,110 kWh Annual Heating Cost: $30,341 Phase 1

22. Revenue & Programming Possibilities Scuba Diving– Direct access to water allows for SCUBA lessons and rentals Outdoor Theater– Space on roof for movies with backdrop of Manhattan skyline Memorabilia Stand – Harbor School items, hand-made crafts, marine and historical information/literature sold inside Kayaking– Dock space and direct water access allows for kayak rentals and lessons Marine Touch Tanks– Small fee charged for access to touch tanks containing harbor marine life Outdoor Cafe– Green roof space contains café with picnic tables, views of Brooklyn, Manhattan