Salesforce Park
San Francisco, CA - Salesforce Park, set on the rooftop of Salesforce Transit Center, is a transformative 5.4 acre park in the massively redeveloping Transbay neighborhood of downtown San Francisco. The park sits four levels above the ground, and offers an urban oasis in a garden-like setting, with constant activity with a robust calendar of daily programming and events. The park opened to record crowds in August 2018.
BRV was selected in April 2017 to run the park as the park’s managing entity. In addition to regularly programming the park and its outdoor amphitheater, BRV oversees general operations, horticulture, sanitation, and maintenance of the park.
Photo by Samuel Issac.
Fair Park
Dallas, TX - Fair Park First recently assumed management control of this Dallas landmark and has partnered with OVG360 to oversee day-to-day operations at the 277 acre campus. BRV, in conjunction with OVG360, will be leading the update of the master plan and development of Fair Park. BRV is responsible for developing a new neighborhood park and activating the entire campus with new cultural attractions and events for the public. OVG360 will serve as the primary booking, marketing, and operational management entity for Fair Park and the Cotton Bowl.
To give feedback or propose ideas about Fair Park, please email fairpark@brvcorp.com, or visit us at brvcorp.com/fair-park. For information about OVG360, or booking events at Fair Park, please email scott_norton@oakviewgroup.com.
Cary Downtown Park
Cary, NC - In 2018, BRV was subcontracted by The Office of James Burnett, a landscape architecture firm, to provide programming services and operations and maintenance planning for the Town of Cary’s Phase II of the Downtown Park development.
BRV’s role was to lead public outreach efforts, participate in project visioning, assist in devising three master plan alternatives, and devise a final preferred master plan.
Working closely with the Town of Cary’s specific vision, BRV produced innovative and experimental ideas for programming and amenities. BRV also provided programming, budget, and management advice. The project is expected to open by 2021.
Lugar Plaza
Indianapolis, IN - In 2018, the City of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis-Marion County Building Authority hired BRV to create programming, operating, revenue, and management plans for Lugar Plaza. The plaza is a redeveloped civic square between downtown’s transit center and the city’s municipal complex.
BRV conducted a series of focus groups with future plaza users and other downtown stakeholders, and completed a public space market analysis to create an activation strategy for the public space. BRV worked with the landscape architecture firm Rundell Ernstberger Associates, who designed the space. BRV also identified and evaluated the capabilities of potential private sector management partners.
Once a partner was selected, BRV wrote the business terms for a management agreement between the Building Authority and a nonprofit public space management entity that formalized a division of responsibilities between organizations.
Klyde Warren Park
Dallas, TX - From 2005 to the present, BRV has worked on developing and operating Klyde Warren Park, a transformative public space which decked over a highway in downtown Dallas, Texas. BRV created a programming and operations plan for the park and an organization plan for the dedicated non-profit that manages the park. BRV brought this plan to life by hiring and training staff; implementing programming; advising on sanitation, security, and maintenance; and generating streams of revenue.
Montgomery Park
Portland, OR - Montgomery Park is an 18-acre site in northwest Portland that includes the historically significant Montgomery Park building.
Unico Properties purchased the site in 2019 with plans to re-energize this important historic district by renovating the existing historical Montgomery Park and American Can Complex buildings and infilling the site with additional residential, commercial, and retail development, including culinary-oriented specialty offerings and an inviting public realm.
BRV was hired in December 2021 to create a dynamic activation plan that will serve Montgomery Park’s tenants, residents, and the neighboring communities. The goal is to support the creation of a revitalized, active urban district that brings together the best Portland has to offer. BRV’s programming plan intends to showcase Portland’s rich cultural and community offerings through collaborations with local organizations.
Downtown Market Plaza
Lee’s Summit, MO - BRV, selected after a nationwide competition as the manager of a newly developed section of Lee's Summit's very successful downtown, is designing programming for that area after a series of meetings with 300 downtown stakeholders.
Scottsdale Civic Center Park
Scottsdale, AZ - In 2020-2021, BRV was part of a team headed by RPA Engineers and Dig Studio and hired by the City of Scottsdale to reimagine the dated but beloved Scottsdale Civic Center Mall.
The City of Scottsdale plans to update the design of the aging physical infrastructure of the Civic Center Mall, which caps over a thoroughfare and connects City Hall and the Scottsdale Public Library to Old Town Scottsdale. The park is a green oasis with large lawns and water features, but the plans will enhance the underlying event infrastructure and capacity to be used when Phoenix hosts the Super Bowl in 2023. It will also create spaces to better support daily community activity. The project team is working closely with Scottsdale Arts, who already programs the park with large concerts and festivals, to enhance the calendar with daily programs such as free exercise classes, live music, and children’s activities.
BRV’s focus was to create a proposed calendar of free programming and events for the Civic Center, and also to consult on the design concept and prioritization of physical features in the space so that it is functional, sensible, attractive, and successful.
Rail Park
Philadelphia, PA - 2021: BRV and the Sasaki Landscape Architecture firm are advising Friends of the Rail Park, a newly formed Center City group that is developing a three-mile-long buried and elevated rail line, on governance and negotiation of a memorandum of understanding with owners of abandoned trackage.
Woodruff Park
Atlanta, GA - BRV consulted Central Atlanta Progress on how to best turn around a troubled downtown park that had become dominated by the homeless and was perceived as dangerous. After extensive site observation, analysis, and interviews with stakeholders and potential park visitors, BRV made a number of recommendations for the park.
The recommendations included minor design changes and a comprehensive reprogramming of the park, many of which we’ve installed. BRV created annual expense and revenue budgets and provided guidance for governance and day-to-day management.
Ivy Station
Culver City, CA - BRV was hired by Lowe Enterprises to consult on the design and programming of a 1.3 acre park located in the core of a mixed-use, transit-oriented development.
In addition to a comprehensive programming plan, BRV provided guidance on operations, sanitation, and security, assisted with retail and concession leasing strategies, and participated in public meetings during the entitlement process.
University Lakes
Baton Rouge, LA - BRV is part of a team, led by Sasaki, implementing the Master Plan for the redeveloped park areas and circulation system comprising the University Lakes System of Baton Rouge. These six lakes are a vital part of the Baton Rouge and LSU communities. BRV is developing high-level frameworks on park programming, operations, and maintenance. BRV is working with the design team to ensure the physical design plans fit seamlessly with the planned programming and operations. The project will improve water quality, increase natural habitat, and provide expanded and safer recreational opportunities. Implementation will occur over the next decade as the project is completed in phases.
Military Park
Newark, NJ - BRV has been working in Military Park since 2003 and formed the Military Park Partnership in 2010. After a redesign that included over an acre of new gardens, a restaurant slated to open this year, and hardscape improvements, Military Park reopened in 2014 under BRV’s management. The first year was hugely successful and saw many Newarkers coming back to the long-deserted park thanks to the refreshed spaces and thick programming schedule.
Downtown Westfield
Westfield, NJ - BRV was hired by Hudson’s Bay Corporation for consulting on the revitalization and beautification of Downtown Westfield. Westfield is an affluent suburban community with an active downtown that will be redeveloped in the near future. BRV provided design review services including reviewing site plans, developing connectivity opportunities, and providing recommendations for landscape and streetscape features that affect programming and operations. We also provided pandemic-era and future programming guidance, and encouraged the local business improvement district to add programming to Downtown Westfield while working within COVID restrictions.
George Mason University
Arlington, VA - BRV is a key part of a development team, led by Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate, working on the redesign, community engagement, and activation of several locations on George Mason University's Arlington campus. BRV provided recommendations to improve the site plans, so Mason's Founders Plaza can be actively programmed. BRV conducted three community engagement sessions to understand what programs and amenities would draw the most visitors to Mason's public spaces. BRV then created an elaborate programming plan for Mason.
Barney Allis Plaza
Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has seen major investments in infrastructure, community-scale urban improvement, entertainment venues, and significant growth in both downtown employment and residential populations, which is represented especially well by millennials. Heightened interest in the use of downtown Kansas City’s public spaces has come with these trends.
BRV is part of a team developing plans for the renovation of Barney Allis Plaza, a 3.2-acre public square and city park. The plaza is located above an aging three-story parking garage. Neighboring the site are the city’s Convention Center, hotels, and arts institutions. The City and other local entities have begun the process to reimagine and rebuild the plaza and the garage to better serve local communities and visitors. The goal is to activate and tie together a civic district in the heart of the city.
As part of the planning team, BRV is developing case studies, a programming plan, an operational strategy and budgets, and a governance strategy and will help test program concepts. Local stakeholders have been engaged in the visioning process for the redesigned space. BRV is also assisting with the development of the performance criteria for candidate design-build teams and will help review submissions.
Canalside
Buffalo, NY - BRV was hired by the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (a subsidiary of the Empire State Development Corporation) to improve the programming, operations, and governance of the public spaces at Canalside, a 23-acre redevelopment area at the historic terminus of the Erie Canal on the Buffalo waterfront. Attendance at Canalside has more than doubled since BRV began its involvement, and the public spaces now anchor a burgeoning mixed-use entertainment district that includes new hotels, office space, and retail.
Huizenga Park
Fort Lauderdale, FL - In 2022, BRV and architecture firm Perkins & Will are advising Ft. Lauderdale's Downtown Development Authority on the redesign of Huizenga Park, located in the heart of the city along the highly-trafficked Riverwalk. Our work includes high-level program planning as well as advice on design elements, amenities, and concessions to create a park that better serves the needs of this fast-growing community.
Schenley Plaza
Pittsburgh, PA - BRV analyzed and made recommendations for the redevelopment of a surface parking lot into an active urban park in the neighborhood around the University of Pittsburgh. This included recommendations for the physical design and programming of the park, the preparation of expense and revenue budgets, and suggestions for implementing the plan.
BRV was retained as a consultant following the delivery of the plan to assist in the final design and development of the new Schenley Plaza.
Ward Village
Honolulu, HI - BRV is working with the Howard Hughes Corporation to devise both short-term and long-term activations for the public realm at the redeveloping Ward Village district in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Ward Village entertainment district is a hub for dining and retail, has a dense concentration of new residential towers, and is one of the most prominent walkable districts in urban Honolulu.
Detroit Pistons Neighbors Program
Detroit, MI - BRV was selected as part of a competitive process as a programming manager for the Detroit Pistons Neighbors Program.
In partnership with the City of Detroit, the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation, and the William Davidson Foundation, the Neighbors Program will bring free, safe, outdoor recreation activities and equipment to five Detroit parks for an eight-week pilot summer of 2020. Activities include sports clinics, wellness classes, music, and art.
BRV helped the Pistons and the City of Detroit select five parks for the program representing culturally and economically diverse neighborhoods throughout Detroit - Palmer Park, Adam Butzel Recreation Complex, Clark Park, Jayne Field/Lasky Recreation Center, and Pingree Park.
In addition to the Pistons’ basketball programming, BRV lined up dozens of partnerships with small businesses, local musicians, arts institutions, and artists representing diverse backgrounds and voices.
BRV also worked with the health department and local experts on COVID-19 safety procedures, as well as incorporating social and mental health guidelines.
BRV managed all staff, operations, programs, and community engagement, and will train a cohort of community partners to continue programming in the future.
Town Branch Park
Lexington, KY - Beginning in March 2017, BRV has partnered with the Blue Grass Community Foundation to transform the Town Branch Park concept plan into reality. Over the course of the project, BRV has closely worked with landscape design firm, SCAPE, to further develop their conceptual landscape design into a refined plan for the future Town Branch Park. BRV has also created a programming plan and worked with local cultural institutions to bring exciting programming to the future park. To ensure the park's future success, BRV has also worked with BGCF to create a governance plan, execute a capital fundraising strategy, and develop revenue-generating assets in Town Branch Park.
Sony Center
Berlin, Germany - BRV was hired by Oxford Properties in June 2021 as part of the redevelopment and reinvigoration of the Sony Center near Potsdamer Platz in the center of Berlin. Oxford engaged BRV for community surveying, a programming plan based on the community desires, and design guidance for Peter Walker Partners’ Landscape Master Plan for Sony Center’s public spaces.
The aim of the redevelopment is to create lively and attractive public spaces at the Sony Center that will draw office workers, Berliners, and tourists, increase dwell time, and be a cherished space that is a hub of authentic Berlin culture.
Levy Park
Houston, TX - BRV worked with the Upper Kirby District to transform Levy Park, an existing, under-utilized park, into a vibrant and highly programmed space. Located near some of Houston’s most popular and well-known neighborhoods, River Oaks, Montrose, and West University, Levy Park has become one of Houston’s signature gathering spaces. BRV created management, operations, and programming plans for Levy Park and guided the implementation of programming.
Levy Park opened in February 2017 with a full slate of programs and amenities for the public to enjoy.
LeBauer Park
Greensboro, NC - In August 2013, BRV worked with stakeholders and community members to develop a concept plan for a new downtown park based on a slate of programming and amenities. BRV worked to balance public opinion with the wishes of the private individual whose bequest is funding the park’s development.
In early 2014, BRV was retained to develop an operating plan for LeBauer Park and to develop a governance solution for managing the park. BRV developed a comprehensive schedule of programming to coincide with the opening of the park.
LeBauer Park opened in August of 2016. Greensboro Downtown Parks manages the park, maintaining a great schedule of programs and amenities for the public to freely enjoy.
Mission Rock
San Francisco, CA - In summer 2017, the San Francisco Giants retained BRV to advise on the development of a network of public spaces within their Mission Rock development project, turning their current surface parking lot into a vibrant mixed-use district. Seeking to gain approval from the City of San Francisco, the Giants charged BRV with the task of developing placemaking guidelines that outlined the Giants’ vision for the future of Mission Rock’s public space operations and programming.
BRV crafted a specific narrative that outlined key placemaking strategies that will ensure the daily activation and financial sustainability of Mission Rock. The strategies included programming concepts, basic operations plans, and high-level revenue generation.
After construction of the project was approved, BRV was re-hired to work with the project’s developer, Tishman Speyer, to incorporate these ideas into the site design and create fleshed out plans for programming, operations, and revenue development.
The Home Depot Backyard
Atlanta, GA - BRV was retained by AMB Sports + Entertainment, owner of the Atlanta Falcons, to advise on The Home Depot Backyard, a new public space abutting the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. BRV developed a dense slate of programs designed to draw both local residents and visitors from greater Atlanta, located potential partners for each program, and built a schedule to keep the space active at all times of year. BRV also created a comprehensive operations budget, including horticulture, capital maintenance, security, and programming for a challenging site that is converted to tailgating during game days. BRV further advised on staffing decisions, rules and regulations, and a governance strategy. The Home Depot Backyard opened in September 2018 to wide media attention.
Willamette Falls Riverwalk
Oregon City, OR - Willamette Falls, at 42 feet high and 1,500 feet wide, is the largest waterfall by water volume in the Northwest. After being closed to the public for 130 years, the Falls are in transition to become a public riverwalk. BRV was hired in 2019 by Willamette Falls Trust to develop programming experiences that will advance the design vision of the Riverwalk and bring to life the Willamette Falls Trust’s core values of Public Access, Cultural and Historic Interpretation, Economic Redevelopment, and Healthy Habitat. The programming at the Falls will give the public a way to experience the history of the site and be part of its developing future.
5M
San Francisco, CA - The 5M development of Brookfield Properties is a 4-acre, privately funded arts and community-oriented mixed-use district bounded by Mission, Fifth, and Howard Streets in San Francisco. The site is located in a central, dense, and vibrant urban area of SoMa with easy access to public transit and a thriving dining and nightlife scene. The development plan will transition underutilized parking lots, alleyways, and an existing office building to a pedestrian-focused experience. The site will include new public open spaces, mixed-income housing, offices, retail, and restored historic buildings, as well as support programming for arts, culture, and community youth.
Mary Court, at the heart of the 5M Public Realm, is intended to serve as an urban room that spills out of and into adjacent active frontages and shared streets.
BRV created dynamic activation and programming plans that will serve 5M tenants and residents, the neighboring SoMa community, and the City. The goal is a highly versatile, active urban open space. The area is home to important cultural institutions and prominent community groups and is rich with local history. BRV’s programming plan for 5M will help exemplify the best the neighborhood has to offer by showcasing its rich cultural and community offerings through collaborations with local organizations. 5M’s retail, arts, and innovation partners will be a backbone of the programming partnerships for the outdoor space, and will showcase hyper-local offerings and talent. BRV's programming plan will seek to attract a steady stream of daily users that activate the space at less busy times and encourage park users to increase dwell time. The plan calls for recurring programs such as hobby meet-ups, crafting hours, children’s activities, fitness, and educational classes, in addition to occasional larger events, like cultural festivals or markets, that draw in a larger community, create buzz, and introduce new users to 5M.
Upper St. Anthony Falls
Minneapolis, MN - Biederman Redevelopment Ventures was hired to develop a business plan and programming scheme for a future visitor center at St. Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River. The Upper Lock and Dam at St. Anthony Falls was decommissioned in 2015 and sits as a physical barrier between the City and the riverfront. The future facility will be a welcoming center to the entire Central Riverfront - a community center for visitors and locals alike, fostering social engagement and wilderness exploration in the heart of downtown Minneapolis.
A new structure at the Lock and Dam would provide dramatic views of the surrounding Falls and include a destination restaurant, educational exhibits, event spaces, underground parking, and a small café. BRV compiled a robust schedule of free public amenities and programs for the site, as well as diverse revenue opportunities to offset operating costs. The Falls visitor center will become a year-round destination, connecting users to nature.
High Street Park
Dunwoody, GA - Located in a burgeoning suburb north of Atlanta, High Street Park is a new mixed-use development, developed by GID. GID retained BRV to consult on the design, operations, and programming of a new 1-acre park at the center of the development. The park, designed by OJB - which previously partnered with BRV to create the award-winning Klyde Warren Park in Dallas, Levy Park in Houston, and Lebauer Park in Greensboro, NC - will feature a dog park, two food and beverage kiosks, a lush lawn, and children's play area. With BRV's input, the public relam will offer a wide range of free programming and events to excite residents, office workers, and shoppers in the area.
Regent Square
Houston, TX - Developed by GID, Regent Square and the surrounding neighborhood will be Houston's newest thriving retail hub. BRV joined the project as placemaking consultants to ensure that the public realm feels inviting, active, and attractive. BRV created comprehensive programming and operating plans and contributed design input. Once opened, Regent Square will offer a full slate of programs that appeal to local residents and shoppers, two food and beverage kiosks, and a central lawn.
Sky Park at CIBC Square
Toronto, Canada - International real estate firm Hines hired BRV to consult on the design, operations, and programming of a 1-acre elevated park that would span the distance between two new mixed-use towers in downtown Toronto. BRV developed a programming plan and worked closely with local landscape architects Public Work to mold the design into an achievable and programmable park. At the same time, BRV created operating budgets and devised future revenue generation strategies to contribute to the long-term financial independence of the public space.
Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk
New York, NY - Beginning in spring of 2017, BRV was retained by iStar to develop brand relations for the Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk, a new performance and community venue. As a part of this effort, BRV has taken charge of nurturing current brand partnerships and developing new ones for future seasons, initiated a new marketing and promotion strategy, built an inventory of revenue generating assets, and managed relationships between the client and participating brands.
Currie Park
West Palm Beach, FL - Currie Park is a historically significant park in the Northwood neighborhood of West Palm Beach, but has been underused for some time. BRV partnered with local engineering and landscape architecture firm Chen Moore and Associates and national landscape firm OLIN to redevelop Currie Park.
BRV connected with local businesses and organizations to begin creating a densely-packed schedule of programs that will highlight the creative communities surrounding the park.
In addition, BRV developed operating budgets, continues to investigate revenue-generating assets for the park, advised on the park’s future governance stucture, and consulted on the selection of the future in-park restaurant operator.
Once the redevelopment is complete, which is slated for 2023, Currie Park will be a highly programmed public space that will connect Northwood to Downtown West Palm Beach.
Tarkington Park
Indianapolis, IN - Indianapolis Parks Foundation, in partnership with Midtown Indy, hired BRV to assist in the redevelopment of Tarkington Park, a neighborhood park at the center of Indianapolis' Midtown. BRV developed a comprehensive programming plan that would ensure daily activation of the park with dozens of small-scale events that would attract the distinct populations that surround the park. In addition, BRV created an operations and management plan and an organizational structure to ensure the long-running success of the newly refurbished park.
Tarkington Park reopened in late July 2017 with a brand new playground, and with the new programming plan set in place. A new in-park restaurant and stage are both slated to open soon after.
Eau Claire Plaza
Calgary, AB - Eau Claire Plaza is a 4-acre public plaza abutting the scenic Bow River in the heart of downtown Calgary. Landscape architecture firm DIALOG Design brought on BRV in 2018 to assist in redesigning the plaza for their client, the City of Calgary.
The Eau Claire area is being refreshed to allow for more flexible year-round uses and improved accessibility. The under-utilized plaza was a sore spot amongst a series of ambitious riverfront redevelopment projects. Its redesign will embrace everyday community gatherings in addition to spaces for hosting larger events and festivals.
BRV provided design review through multiple iterations, prioritizing how the space would be experienced by visitors and used for year-round programming. The programming vision for the space celebrated Calgarians’ zest for winter activity and supported the plaza’s role as a transition zone between the scenic natural setting to the north and the bustling urban core to its south. Finally, BRV assisted with public engagement workshops to help shepherd the plaza redesign through the development process.
Sketch by DIALOG Design.
Met Miami
Miami, FL - BRV was retained by EDENS, a privately-held REIT that owns over 100 urban retail centers in a $4.2 billion portfolio, to lead the planning and pre-development phases of the public space at Met Miami, a new mixed-use entertainment destination that also includes three luxury residential towers as well as an office and hotel tower. The plaza is located on the site of the original settlement of Miami by the Tequesta Indians and the historic Royal Palm Hotel built by railroad tycoon Henry Flagler.
BRV’s goals for the project included laying the groundwork for a vibrant and exciting urban plaza at the project’s heart through innovative programming, creating a design concept that supports the fosters use by the public, and providing a blueprint for a first-class operation that could eventually become financially self-sustaining. In addition, BRV led the process to gain approvals from the City of Miami’s historic preservation board, assembling an accomplished design team and managing the involvement of the historic preservation community.
Charles River Esplanade
Boston, MA - BRV was retained by The Esplanade Association in the spring of 2011 to generate revenue through sponsorships and events that will be used to renovate and maintain the park. BRV also provided consulting expertise in placemaking and food service. The Charles River Esplanade is a network of promenades, running paths, walkways, and footbridges that extends three miles along the Boston side of the Charles River.
Harbor Point
Stamford, CT - In 2016, Building and Land Technology (BLT) brought in BRV to implement a whole host of placemaking initiatives to enliven and improve the public spaces in the new Harbor Point district in the South End of Stamford. In the summer of 2016, BRV launched a programming pilot that consisted of 23 new free-to-the-public activities and programs, drafted physical streetscape improvements, and investigated the potential redevelopment of the Stamford train station.
Building on the success of the 2016 season, BRV will launch another full schedule of programming for summer 2017 and continues to advise BLT on future public realm development.
South Shore Riverfront Park
Pittsburgh, PA - BRV was retained by the developers of a new riverfront park adjacent to a successful mixed-use development to create a business plan for a financially self-supporting park. BRV developed an innovative revenue plan, detailed revenue and expense budgets, and a staffing plan. In addition, BRV consulted on the type of entity that would own and manage the park and the scope of services it would provide.
Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority
Singapore - BRV served (2001-2004) on URA’s advisory board alongside Fumihiko Maki, Sir Peter Hall, Philip Cox, and Joan Busquets.
Albuquerque Downtown Alliance
Albuquerque, NM - BRV urged ADA to enliven pedestrian links to the Historic Route 66 using streetscape and place-making techniques that BRV pioneered in New York.
"Big Dig" Surface Park Planning
Boston, MA - BRV advised the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority in 2000 on financing and managing the surface parks to be created on top of the “Big Dig”.
34th Street Partnership
New York, NY - BRV founded the 34th Street Partnership in the 34th Street retail district in Midtown Manhattan. BRV managed the design, financing, and installation of capital improvements. The “first generation” of improvements was installed between 1994 and 1997; since that time, BRV has continuously upgraded the various streetscape elements, with innovations like applying LED technology to street signs. BRV also redeveloped Herald and Greeley Square parks as a part of this project and continues to manage and operate these public spaces.
Grand Central Partnership
New York, NY - BRV created the Grand Central Partnership, one of New York City’s first business improvement districts. Under BRV’s management, the Partnership financed and installed over $25 million in streetscape improvements, developed a new public space and restaurant at Pershing Square, and all but eliminated crime in the neighborhood, including an active drug market outside Grand Central Terminal.
Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market
Boston, MA - Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market have become a major tourist attraction since their rebirth as a festival marketplace in the 1970s. To capitalize on this growing district, new owners of the property aimed to reposition the marketplace as an attraction for local residents, as well as visitors. BRV was retained by Ashkenazy Acquisition Group to develop and operate new programming, and design seating, lighting, wayfinding, and retail strategies to modernize the marketplace, while highlighting its history.
Coconut Grove Partnership
Miami, FL - BRV worked with the Coconut Grove Business Improvement Committee to create a new business improvement district to generate new revenues in Coconut Grove, a picturesque "village" in Miami, with an active downtown full of restaurants and shops that cater to locals and tourists. BRV walked the BIC through every step of the process, working with the BIC staff to author a formal BID plan. This effort culminated in a November 2008 vote to create the new BID.
After the BID was created, BRV made recommendations on how the BID could supplement its revenues through creatively using its public spaces.
BRV also advised the BID on a host of planning and operating issues, on an on-call basis, for the year following its establishment.
Newark Downtown District
Newark, NJ - BRV advised downtown Newark property owners and other stakeholders on the formation of the Newark Downtown District in 2000. From 2004 through 2009, BRV advised the BID on a host of projects, long-term planning, operations, and finances. This included leading a $17 million capital improvement project, upgrading the streetscape on over 50 blocks of downtown Newark. BRV conducted planning, managed design, and oversaw the first phase of installation and construction of improvements. In addition, BRV arranged for the BID to issue $13 million in tax-exempt bonds through the public market and helped the BID achieve an investment-grade rating for its bonds.
Inner Harbor
Baltimore, MD - BRV was hired by the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore, the BID that manages the renowned Inner Harbor, to improve the visitor experience at Baltimore’s waterfront entertainment district.
BRV examined the existing conditions at the site, analyzed the business model, and interviewed stakeholders about their various roles in the management of the inner harbor.
In turn, BRV developed a new governance model and operations plan for the space and created an implementation plan to make it a reality, taking into account the political realities surrounding the space.
Coney Island
Brooklyn, NY - BRV was hired by Thor Equities to develop programming for and manage two lots in the heart of Coney Island. Site amenities and activities will include twelve restaurants operating out of remodeled shipping containers, installations by world-famous street artists, a variety of performances, and a host of games for visitors to New York City's premiere summer entertainment destination.
Hudson Yards
New York, NY - BRV advised the Related Companies on the design and programming of the public spaces at Hudson Yards, the most significant urban redevelopment project in New York City since Rockefeller Center. BRV developed plans for intensive, year-round programming in order to generate public space activity on par with long established parks in centrally located neighborhoods.
BRV also consulted the Related Companies on other aspects of the new neighborhood’s public realm, including accommodating large events like Fashion Week and connecting the project to the High Line.
City Place
Silver Spring, MD - BRV made recommendations to improve the visitor experience at City Place, a regional mall seeking to attract new tenants. BRV recommended programming and amenities that would make dull spaces livelier and guided the client on strategies to generate revenue in the public spaces. BRV also made recommendations for capital programs to make the streetscape around the development safer and more attractive, advised on the development of an indoor/outdoor restaurant, and critiqued the sanitation, security, and horticulture operations.
Piedmont Triad Research Park
Winston-Salem, NC - BRV made recommendations for programming the public spaces within a biotechnology research facility in downtown Winston-Salem, scheduled to be developed over the next five years. BRV designed one public space that could be implemented quickly and inexpensively, and another, more capital intensive programming plan for when the research park is fully built.
Depot Park
Sacramento, CA - BRV advised Fischer Properties on how to make this mixed use development, formerly an industrial site, more pedestrian friendly and counseled the client on seating and amenities in the public spaces.
South Street Seaport
New York, NY - BRV was hired by The Howard Hughes Corporation to create vibrant public spaces for the planned redevelopment of Pier 17 at the historic South Street Seaport. BRV’s scope of work included a programming plan, staffing plan, and associated budgets, as well as design guidance for the redeveloped spaces. BRV also made recommendations on how to activate other public areas at the Seaport, including the Uplands Historic District and Titanic Park, that could be implemented prior to construction on Pier 17.
Chelsea Triangle
New York, NY - In 2007, BRV partnered with the New York City Department of Transportation to create the Chelsea Triangle, a pilot pedestrianization project that would soon be emulated across the entire city, reclaiming streets for use by people. Through the Chelsea Improvement Company, BRV has operated and continuously upgraded the popular plaza, hosting free concerts, dance and exercise classes, and public art. In 2010, the Chelsea Triangle received the Pinnacle Award from the International Downtown Association, the highest recognition for a public redevelopment project from the urban management industry’s most prominent organization.
Monroe Park Master Plan
Richmond, VA - BRV combined analyses of pedestrian paths and market share with a public charrette to create a comprehensive programming scheme for the historic Monroe Park, at the edge of Richmond's Fan District, near Virginia Commonwealth University. BRV's work on a master plan for the park also included recommendations on how to manage and govern the park, and how the park can generate revenue to be self-sustaining. BRV also created a draft expense budget for when the park re-opens.
Church Street Park
Nashville, TN - Church Street Park is a small pocket park in downtown Nashville. Neglected for many years and the subject of contentious political debate, BRV was tasked with bringing the park back to life to make it a safe and attractive destination for residents and visitors.
In the first phase of work, BRV conferred with stakeholders and community members to determine what the public would enjoy experiencing in this urban park. BRV created a vision for the future of the space and developed a programming plan, governance model, and operating budgets for the park. Working with a local public affairs firm, BRV helped guide the vision through several approvals, ultimately winning the support of the Mayor’s Office.
BRV was retained for the second phase of work in early 2020. The park will undergo physical improvements to make the space more inviting, and BRV will execute a pilot programming season in Spring 2021.
Branch Brook Park
Newark, NJ - BRV consulted the Branch Brook Park Alliance on the expense budget and staffing necessary to make the park a showplace for Newark, as well as how to build a revenue budget to match that expense budget. BRV also provided advice on bringing a restaurant to the park. Additionally, BRV made recommendations regarding governance, promotion, and day-to-day management of the park, as well as prioritizing the capital projects most necessary for revitalization.
Chelsea Improvement Company
New York, NY - BRV was retained to quickly and dramatically improve the public realm in the fashionable southwest Chelsea neighborhood by the principal real estate owners (Angelo, Gordon & Co., Belvedere Capital Management, Chelsea Village Associates, Jamestown, The Related Companies, Somerset Partners, and Taconic Investment Partners), anchored by Chelsea Market and Google. This neighborhood has rapidly changed from light industry and wholesaling, to high fashion and exclusive restaurants.
BRV devised a set of improvements to the public realm—both physical streetscape improvements and service improvements — and then founded the Chelsea Improvement Company to implement the improvements, and operated the company from January 2007 to January 2014 for the participating owners.
In that time, BRV created a new plaza at 14th Street and Ninth Avenue, developing programs, events, and a food concession in the public space; installed over $3 million in streetscape improvements; and created Manhattan’s first and New York’s largest neighborhood-wide Wi-Fi network. The Chelsea Improvement Company's new streetscape, including lamps attached to building facades, tree pits, parking signs, and other street furniture, has substantially upgraded conditions for pedestrians, with regards to safety and aesthetics.
Titletown
Green Bay, WI - BRV is currently the placemaking consultant for a one-of-a-kind new mixed-use district neighboring the iconic Lambeau Field. Working with the Packers, BRV advised on the design, programming, and operations of the new development, which will feature a central plaza unlike any other in the Midwest. With BRV's input, the plaza will offer free programming and events year-round, an ice skating trail that winds underneath a sledding hill, a custom fabricated playground, and dozens of free amenities for the public to enjoy.
Titletown opened in September 2017 to wide acclaim. With BRV's oversight, the district features a dense schedule of programs and stellar operations of its amenities, such as the ice rink, sledding hill, games courts, and overall park maintenance. BRV continues to advise Titletown Development on its ongoing operations.
Newark Commercial Corridor Revitalization
Newark, NJ - BRV provided on-call planning and project management services to the City of Newark and Brick City Development Corporation related to a citywide commercial revitalization program covering several major corridors in Newark.
BRV coordinated streetscape improvements, building improvements, public space programming, and business development efforts being done by the City and other organizations.
34th Street Partnership
New York, NY - BRV managed the design, financing, and installation of capital improvements in the 34th Street retail district in Midtown Manhattan. The “first generation” of improvements was installed between 1994 and 1997; since that time, BRV has continuously upgraded the various streetscape elements, with innovations like applying LED technology to street signs.
Playland
Rye, NY - BRV was retained as the asset manager to oversee operations at the revitalized Playland Park in Rye, New York. The revitalized park will include an amusement park, ice skating facility, indoor and outdoor fields, boat house, restaurants, a catering/event hall, performance stage, and about 15 acres of public parkland and plazas.
Liberty State Park
Jersey City, NJ - The State of New Jersey retained BRV to explore revenue generation and placemaking opportunities that would draw more people and close the operating deficit of Liberty State Park, the gateway to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty and home of the Liberty Science Center. Critical to this effort is an adaptive re-use strategy for the park’s historic train terminal and train shed, as well as enhancing connections to downtown Jersey City, and suggesting ways to optimize the park’s event marketing and booking operations.
Playland
Rye, NY - BRV was retained by the County of Westchester to eliminate the annual operating deficit for a historic amusement park controlled by the County, and to identify and solicit private operators and new commercial development opportunities that would draw more people to the park and make it a year-round destination.
Ala Moana Beach Park
Honolulu, HI - BRV was hired by the City and County of Honolulu to create a new master plan to reimagine Ala Moana Regional Park as a world-class beachfront park. The emphasis of the master planning effort is to create a comprehensive programming scheme, financially sustainable operating plan, and governance structure for a reimagined park that will continue to serve as a prime destination for Honolulu residents.
South Beach BIDs
Miami, FL - BRV prepared a plan in 1999 for the re-establishment of three Business Improvement Districts in South Beach, working closely with the City of Miami Beach and hotel/restaurant owners.
Prudential Center
Newark, NJ - BRV analyzed the sizes and uses of existing and planned public spaces near Newark’s Prudential Center arena for the redevelopment agency in charge of the area. BRV strategized on how to make an arena entry plaza flexible enough to be an urban oasis during daytime hours, and a fully-programmed event space for thousands of visitors before arena events. BRV also created a complex programming scheme for the approaches to the arena, synthesizing best practices from around the United States and adding dozens of original, site-specific ideas.
MetLife Stadium
East Rutherford, NJ - BRV developed programming to activate the retail concourse and boost sales outside of the stadium during New York Jets home games in 2010. BRV also consulted the Jets on the placement and appearance of concessions and retail kiosks. Amenities placed by BRV, such as movable tables and chairs, increased the profitability and improved the fan experience.
Newark Downtown District
Newark, NJ - BRV led the design and financing of $18 million in capital improvements to streets in downtown Newark on behalf of the Newark Downtown District, including new streetlamps, improvements to sidewalks, planters, wayfinding signage, and the creation of a new open-air marketplace, among other programs.
BRV also managed a host of planning and operational projects on behalf of the BID, including re-thinking its boundaries, assessment formula, budgets, and service program.
South Station Train Terminal
Boston, MA - Biederman Redevelopment Ventures was hired by Equity Office to energize South Station with improved events and programming and to bring high-quality restaurants and retailers to the station. BRV is using placemaking techniques to make the station a more inviting and comfortable place for its visitors, transforming it into a vibrant and engaging public space. South Station is New England’s busiest transportation hub, with close to 175,000 commuters served each day. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
M.A.R.T.A. Rail Stations
Atlanta, GA - BRV analyzed the assets and deficiencies of the public spaces in and around all of MARTA’s rail stations, and made recommendations toward increasing their liveliness. This included designing detailed programs for five selected rail stations and guidelines for improving several other stations whose assets were most underutilized. MARTA is currently implementing BRV’s recommendations.
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC - In an effort to give students an opportunity to take a break from their routines and de-stress from demanding academic schedules, Wake Forest University engaged BRV to re-think the outdoor spaces on campus. After months of observing the campus in various seasons and interviewing students, faculty, and staff, BRV designed and implemented a plan to make the outdoor spaces more comfortable and engaging. BRV added movable seating, outdoor amenities, and daily programming. BRV also designed an operations plan for the management of the new furnishings, programming, and amenities and spent extensive time on campus training student leaders and staff in the tactics of public space management.
Princeton's Arts and Transit Neighborhood
Princeton, NJ - BRV consulted Princeton University on how to create lively and vibrant public spaces in its planned Arts and Transit Neighborhood. BRV created a comprehensive programming scheme that tied together the neighborhood's public spaces, integrating the arts and academics.
Brown University
Providence, RI - BRV made a wide variety of recommendations aimed at improving the appearance and functioning of Brown University for its students, faculty, staff, alumni and visitors. BRV suggested design changes and programming to make campus plazas more inviting, proposed a new lighting scheme catered towards the unusual hours of college students, and made recommendations for more interesting gardens and grounds throughout campus. BRV also created a plan for a new streetscape in the area of Providence surrounding the University and advised the University on the formation of a business improvement district to implement the improvements and manage ongoing sanitation and security. BRV’s work included recommending unconventional ways for the university to generate additional revenue on campus in the form of streamlined services, deals with corporate partners, and entrepreneurial real estate transactions.
Boston Common - Brewer Fountain
Boston, MA - BRV consulted the Friends of the Public Garden on generating new sources of revenue for ongoing management, maintenance, and restoration of the Boston Common. In the May of 2012, BRV led the turnaround of the historic Brewer Fountain Plaza section of the Common, introducing movable furniture, programming, and a concession. The Boston Common, an anchor of Fredrick Law Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace park system, is the nation’s oldest public park, dating back to 1634.
Herald and Greeley Squares
New York, NY - Through his management of the 34th Street Partnership, BRV president Dan Biederman redeveloped two small, dingy, historic New York City plazas into vibrant, popular public spaces with lush plantings, movable furniture, high-quality concessions, and well-maintained public restrooms. Today, the award-winning Herald and Greeley Square Parks are an integral part of New York’s Broadway Boulevard, featuring free public events and programming. Mr. Biederman continues to oversee the parks.
Bayfront Park
Miami, FL - BRV conducted a long-range planning study of Bayfront Park in downtown Miami, with an eye toward transforming a largely empty park into a vibrant and active public place. BRV made a number of redesign recommendations to draw more visitors to the park, and to attract and manage large events and other programs in the park. BRV consulted on a number of innovative ways to create additional revenue for the park to match additional expenses, as well as governance and day-today management of the park.
Holladay Park
Portland, OR - Cypress Equities hired BRV to redevelop an underused, and sometimes dangerous, public park near the Lloyd Center, an enclosed shopping mall owned by Cypress. BRV developed a range of programming, amenities, and events to draw residents and office workers, and worked with the City of Portland to develop a public-private partnership to manage the public space. In the summer of 2014, BRV implemented several of the programming recommendations as a pilot, successfully drawing visitors to the park and reducing crime. Following the completion of the pilot program, BRV led a capital renovation process designed to upgrade Holladay Park’s lighting, horticulture, and surface conditions. BRV also led the process of recruiting a restaurant operator and developing public restrooms.
The High Line
New York, NY - BRV consulted Friends of the High Line co-founder Rob Hammond on behalf of abutting property owners, Jamestown Properties. BRV advised Friends of the High Line on programming and revenue generation, assembling a panel of experts for FHL to meet as well as presenting to FHL staff and its design team on programming.
Occidental Park
Seattle, WA - BRV worked with community non-profits and property owners to turn around a park dominated by the homeless, drug dealers, and prostitutes. Located in Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square neighborhood, BRV made recommendations for new furnishings, programming, amenities, and horticulture. BRV also guided the client on creating a public space management entity that could ensure the security of the space and worked with the City of Seattle on a management agreement.
Kendall Square
Cambridge, MA - The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Investment Management Company retained Biederman Redevelopment Ventures to advise on various aspects of the public realm of a new mixed-use development, comprised largely of lab space and offices geared towards high tech firms.
BRV assisted in the planning and design of new public spaces, streetscape elements, and building lobbies, as well as how retailers will spill out and interact with sidewalks. BRV’s recommendations were specifically designed to appeal to tech companies with young employees that demand a vibrant urban atmosphere.
Downtown Tempe Master Plan
Tempe, AZ - BRV worked with the Downtown Tempe Association (DTA) to create a comprehensive strategy to improve the public spaces and streetscapes of Downtown Tempe. Initially, the DTA sought to bring life back to Tempe Beach Park; but, as the project developed, BRV discovered a city saddled by underused and unrealized public spaces. BRV found multiple smaller-scale public spaces that could improve the quality of life much more drastically with thoughtful, small, and inexpensive changes.
Culminating in a final report of recommendations, BRV developed programming concepts fora network of ten underused public spaces, created operating budgets for each of these spaces, established long-term redevelopment goals for streetscapes and pre-existing community centers, and advised on the phasing strategy for all improvements.
Virginia Key Master Plan
Union Station
Los Angeles, CA - BRV was brought on by Morlin Asset Management to assist with programming and retail activation as part of a new master plan for the historic station campus.
BRV conducted research on passenger preferences, analyzed the inside and outside spaces throughout the station, and provided recommendations to Morlin for daily activities, amenities, events, and retail solutions to create a better transit experience and a regional destination.
Kendall Square
Boston, MA - BRV was hired by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to help complete their vision for the East Campus Plan, a project to devise and build a mixed-use development that serves both the university and the surrounding community. BRV participated in guiding both the design and community outreach processes, ensuring that the voices and wishes of local stakeholders guided the overall development design. BRV advised the design team, comprised of architects, landscape architects, and engineers, and assisted MIT in getting necessary entitlements and permits. BRV will continue to advise the project through the construction phase to guarantee that the mixed-use development and its public spaces come to fruition.
I-59/20 Underpass Park
Birmingham, AL - Working with the State of Alabama, the City of Birmingham, and ALDOT, BRV collaboratively shaped a new plan to transform underutilized space underneath I-59/20. The highway cuts right through Birmingham's downtown, cutting key cultural and educational institutions off from surrounding neighborhoods. To ameliorate these conditions, BRV worked closely with the architecture team to create a highly-programmed park with distinct activities, uses, and amenities available throughout the linear public space.
Grand Park
Los Angeles, CA - BRV, as part of a team including the Related Companies, authored a 2005 plan to create a new world-class park in downtown Los Angeles, a key component of a multibillion-dollar redevelopment of the Grand Avenue corridor. That park, now named Grand Park, opened in 2012.
Exposition Park
Los Angeles, CA - BRV was selected in early 2017, on a team led by Torti Gallas and Partners, to create a new master plan for Exposition Park, a historic park in South Los Angeles.
The 160-acre park, with its collection of museums (including the forthcoming Lucas Museum of Narrative Art), cultural institutions, and sports venues, is an important landmark for Los Angeles and an asset to the community. BRV’s work emphized Exposition Park’s significance in the neighborhood by highlighting and commenting on its myriad activities - small and large - and advising on ways the park’s many institutions could work together on a cohesive programming plan.
BRV also advised on potential land use concepts, management and governance plans, and revenue generation strategies for the park.
Bryant Park
New York, NY - BRV oversaw the turnaround of a park dominated by drug dealers and other criminals into the most vibrant park in New York City. Winner of over two dozen design and management awards and cited in numerous books and articles as one of the world’s best urban parks, Bryant Park is a huge success from both a design and financial viewpoint. The park created over $3 billion of value for its abutting real estate owners and serves as an international model in placemaking, urban redevelopment, and public space management.
Riverfront Revitalization Project
Omaha, NE and Council Bluffs, IA - BRV, with a master planning team led by the Office of James Burnett landscape architects, was hired to consult on the programming, operations, and funding strategies as part of an overall master plan to reinvigorate roughly 180 acres of public space along the riverfront in Omaha, Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa.
The master plan’s proposals would clean up contaminated land, restore wetlands, and activate underutilized space throughout both sides of the river with aquatic uses, outdoor recreation, environmental education, and other programming.
Along with programming and operations, BRV assisted with the development of a governance structure between the two cities, funding strategies for capital improvements, and expense and revenue budgets for the long-term sustainability of the new park.
Rendering courtesy of OJB Landscape Architecture.
MIT East Campus
Cambridge, MA - Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) hired BRV to help complete their vision for the East Campus Plan, a project to build a mixed-use development and public realm to serve both the institute and surrounding community. BRV participated in guiding both the design and the community outreach process, ensuring that the voices and wishes of local stakeholders guided the overall development design. BRV advised the design team—composed of architects, landscape architects, and engineers—and assisted MIT in obtaining necessary entitlements and permits.
For this effort, BRV drafted a programming plan that integrated MIT-specific activities with public-minded leisure programs to create a proposed schedule of programming that will bring students, professionals, faculty, and visitors together on the campus. BRV interviewed and collaborated with multiple MIT departments to devise concepts for inventive programs that feature the innovative research at the institute. Following this, BRV delivered a comprehensive program plan that provided a roadmap for the future operations of the public realm.
In 2017, BRV devised a pilot for this programming plan to be implemented throughout the current MIT campus.