Amphitheater at the Corning Preserve

The City of Albany, New York connected its riverfront along the Hudson River with the downtown with a new, $3.5 million pedestrian bridge, thereby allowing easy access to the Corning Preserve. The creation of a new amphitheater and riverfront promenade at the Corning Preserve has allowed festivals and events to occur year round.

Site design included new shoreline protection and water access, a waterfront walkway that connects with other city and park destinations along the river, creating a multi-use amphitheater that is universally accessible within 30 vertical feet of grade change, a new building housing pubic restrooms and a USGS monitoring station, and new lights, planting and balustrades to match the bridge's "Empire Style".

Extensive committee and public meetings were required to program, design, budget and construct the project. The project has encouraged seasonal private development in the Corning Preserve, and other private development near the new parking garage on the city side of the bridge. Completed in 2003, Pam Shadley was Principal-in-Charge for site design while with CRJA.