Winner of the Art Commission Award for Excellence in Design, 1986  . The rich history of New York Harbor and the Washington Market are the inspiration for this installation.  A 224 foot long, steel fence portrays a dynamic procession of silhoutted ships gallantly parading around the schoolyard.  The fence captures the vitality of the City's shipping industry and is based on actual vessels that cruised NY harbor.   As stated in The New York Times, "The rolling horizontalness of the fence seems to provide a human anchor for the World Trade Center behind it. And in the way a tugboat drags a tanker toward a school gate like a mother dragging her reluctant child, there is wit as well."


P.S. 234

Dreaming of Far Away Places: The Ships Come to Washington Market

 Richard Dattner, of Dattner Architects, shares his ideas behind the refurbishing of the Asphalt Green AquaCenter, which houses New York City's premier 50-meter competition swimming pool. 

 Richard Dattner, of Dattner Architects, shares his vision for Riverbank State Park, the roof of the sewage treatment plant on the Hudson River was developed as an urban park. 

 Sherida Paulsen, principal of PKSB Architects, discusses the renovation of Asphalt Green, from a concrete production plant, to a recreational facility. 

 Richard Dattner, of Dattner Architects, shares his ideas about bridging the new and the old. This rehabilitation project included the renovation of the existing historic station house. 

 Richard Dattner, of Dattner Architects, discusses the renovations to the Coney Island Boardwalk. He argues the importance of sanitary comfort station, and how through these renovations he moved these stations from under the boardwalk, to a more suitable location. 

 Richard Dattner, of Dattner Architects, discusses the design behind the Con Edison Service Center on East 16th Street. 

 Richard Dattner, of Dattner Architects, discusses the design tactics behind creating a learning environment for children at P.S. 234. 

 Richard Dattner, of Dattner Architects, discusses the Lawrence A. Wien Stadium and its' responsiveness to community concerns. 

 Joseph Coppola, of Dattner architects, discusses Wave Hill renovations. 

 Richard Dattner, of Dattner Architects, discusses renovation of the marine transfer station on West 59th. 

 John Woelfling, of Dattner Architects, discuses the USS Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. He explains how the ship was removed from the ocean, what they envisioned and what was accomplished when opening the ship up to the public. 

 Bill Stein of Dattner Architects and Robert Garneau of Grimshaw Architects discuss the unique design elements of Via Verde. 

 William Stein, of Dattner Architects, discusses the Bronx Library Center. He highlights some of the design techniques such as circulation and natural light. 

 Jeffrey Dugan, a partner at Dattner Architects, discusses the renovations done to the 59th Street/Columbus Circle Station. Dugan illuminates on the importance of bridging historical perspective and renovations. 

This section of the tour begins with the life of writer Langston Hughes. A mosaic in the Schomburg celebrates Hughes's poem 'The Negro Speaks of Rivers'.

Marcus Garvey was a Harlem resident and Black nationalist speaker. His organization, the Universal Negro Improvement Association, his ideas of Pan-Africanism, and the travels of his vessel The Yarmouth were important forerunners to future African independence movements.

The tour ends with a discussion of the role of Adam Clayton Powell and his Abyssynian Baptist Church on the economic desegregation of Harlem. 

 Joseph Coppola of Dattner Architects discusses the renovations to the Schomburg Library in Harlem, preserving its historic octagonal shape while incorporating light and sound dampening into the gallery and research library. 

 The Residences at PS186 &amp; Boys and Girls Club of Harlem by Kristin Nelson 

 Jeffrey Dugan and William Stein, of Dattner Architects, discuss the renovations to the Myrtle Wyckoff Station Complex and the empowering sense renovations can have on a neighborhood. 

 Rama Dadarkar presents the Harlem River segment of the tour, beginning with Asphalt Green and ending with Spuyten Duyvil Bridge. 

 Bill Stein, a partner at Dattner Architects, discusses the new canopy that covers the station at Bowling Green. 