The FlourGarden: Flourishing in Rochester
The FlourGarden is a unique, 300-foot-long, sustainable, native-planted garden, water, and fountain works in Rochester, New York, that is now open to the public. Once the site of a deserted interpretive raceway, the beautiful “gardenscape” highlights the historical significance of 19th century mill races, which are currents of water or sluices that conduct water to a water wheel.
“The garden’s seven fountains and waterworks are completely programmable, “reacting” to motion and the presence of visitors.”
The FlourGarden pays tribute to the geography and history of High Falls, one of three voluminous waterfalls along the Genesee River, which flows through the heart of the city. The raceway has been divided into six key sections of the area: the Gorge, Lower Race, Middle Race, the Promontory, Millstone Falls, and the Falls. Within each area, a textured garden of native-planted trees, shrubs, flowering plants, and ground cover has been created. The new attraction also showcases a variety of lighting options, such as glass bead joints within the raceway component and a fiber optic reed sculpture. The garden’s seven fountains and waterworks are completely programmable, “reacting” to motion and the presence of visitors.
“… the purpose… is to deliver a sustainable greenway around the High Falls Gorge in downtown Rochester.”
Following eight months of construction, the FlourGarden was the scene of an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 17. Rochester Mayor Lovely A. Warren and a number of State Representatives were among the many notable guests.
The FlourGarden is the first phase of the Greentopia’s GardenAerial project, the purpose of which is to deliver a sustainable greenway around the High Falls Gorge in downtown Rochester. Tara Boggio, T.Y. Lin International (TYLI) Associate Vice President, has served on the Greentopia Board of Directors for the last year and chairs the 10-person critical team steering the City’s formation of the first EcoDistrict in the State of New York.
The completion of the FlourGarden project was capped off by Greentopia’s first annual Garden Party on May 22. More than 250 guests enjoyed a sunny spring day looking out over the newly constructed garden — which now enhances the man-made streetscape and serves as a preview of future GardenAerial capital improvements. The next phase of the GardenAerial project calls for a new pedestrian bridge over High Falls. TYLI has already provided guidance on design concepts and construction costs in order to support Greentopia’s efforts to secure construction funding.
TYLI provided mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering services for the FlourGarden project.
As a global, multi-disciplinary infrastructure services firm, TYLI provides a range of planning, design, construction and project management services to the aviation; bridge; facilities; mobility, planning, and management; ports and marine; rail and transit; and surface transportation industries.
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