Project Description
Project Name: Hackensack Avenue Streetscape Improvements
Category: Landscape Architectural Design: Site Design
Award: Merit
Entrant: Aterial LLC
Once the center of American industry and home to one of the world’s premier shipbuilding operations, Kearny Point is now undergoing a remarkable transformation. The 130-acre waterfront district is evolving into a resilient riverfront campus that supports a new generation of enterprises—from creative incubators to advanced manufacturers. At the heart of this redevelopment lies Hackensack Avenue: a one-mile corridor that connects the site to the regional transportation network and serves as its defining gateway.
The redesign of Hackensack Avenue began with a critical challenge—to reimagine a truck-dominated industrial roadway as a multimodal, resilient corridor that could safely accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, and heavy vehicles while addressing chronic flooding and environmental vulnerability. The goal was to create a street that would be both authentic to the site’s industrial heritage and forward-looking in its sustainable performance.
Grounded in a comprehensive analysis of circulation, stormwater behavior, and existing infrastructure, the design redefines Hackensack Avenue as both a Complete Street and a Green Street. A separated two-way cycle track and a pedestrian promenade now extend the full length of the corridor, offering safe, accessible connections between Kearny Point and nearby transit. Native plantings and bioswales capture and filter stormwater runoff while restoring ecological function to the urban landscape. Biochar-amended soils improve infiltration, support plant health, and sequester carbon—embedding resilience within the design’s very foundation.
Material selection and detailing pay homage to Kearny Point’s industrial legacy. Raised cobblestone buffers, permeable pavers, and engraved granite bands recall the site’s shipbuilding history while reinforcing its commitment to sustainability. High-visibility crosswalks, pedestrian refuge islands, and textured concrete intersections enhance safety, slow traffic, and ensure ADA compliance throughout the corridor. Street lighting and furnishings complete a cohesive, human-scaled public realm that reflects both utility and beauty.
More than an infrastructure upgrade, Hackensack Avenue embodies a larger vision for how post-industrial landscapes can evolve toward resilience, identity, and inclusivity. Completed in 2024, the project transforms a once utilitarian roadway into a living system—one that manages water, supports biodiversity, and promotes active mobility. It stands as a model for how thoughtful design can elevate infrastructure into an expression of place and purpose.
Every choice along Hackensack Avenue was made with intention—each one shaping a street that is as enduring as it is sustainable. Together, they affirm the project’s guiding belief: that every choice matter
