New Park & Trails in Shippan

Olin Partnership, the firm responsible for the Mill River Park master plan also has a project underway at Harbor Plaza, a corporate park peninsula in Shippan. Harbor Plaza is famous as the establishment shot stand in for the Dunder Mifflin Stamford branch in NBC’s The Office. The project will work to shore up deteriorating shoreline and provide a new waterfront park and walking trails around the peninsula.

From Olin's site.

Harbor Plaza is an existing corporate campus on an 18-acre peninsula overlooking the Stamford Harbor. The intention of Olin Partnership’s redesign is to respond to both the needs of the daily users of the campus as well as to the sensitivities of over 4,000 feet of deteriorating shoreline. The first step toward this goal calls for a formalized entryway into the campus and enlivened entrances at each campus building. The result is an overall reduction of hardscaped surfaces, including the expansion and renovation of an existing public park on the peninsula’s northwestern point and the removal of a concrete parking structure to make way for a new park with expansive views to the Harbor. The reintroduction of native maritime plants along the shoreline will assist in the prevention of future erosion and work as a natural filtration system. New walking trails will wind their way along the shoreline, connecting the adjacent neighborhood to the campus and the newly expanded park, as well as to the marina docks. Throughout the site, new views and access to the water’s edge are created for the enjoyment and use of Harbor Plaza’s occupants and the surrounding community.

Stamford’s waterfront is definitely one of it’s most underutilized assets. It’s encouraging to see projects that mix environmental restoration with increased public access.