As part of the City of Rochester’s ROC The Riverway initiative, the Aqueduct District Street Improvements Project redefined the downtown riverfront as a vibrant, pedestrian-centered district. Positioned to support the City’s Aqueduct Reimagined project and the arrival of Constellation Brands’ corporate headquarters in the historic Aqueduct Building, the improvements create a seamless connection between heritage and progress. The design respects the architectural legacy of the area while preparing it for renewed economic energy, earning a 2024 New York State Project of the Year Award for Historic Preservation from the American Public Works Association.
Five streets were comprehensively reconfigured to calm traffic and elevate the public realm. Strategic travel direction changes and one-way to two-way conversions reshaped circulation patterns, while narrowed 10- to 12-foot lanes, tight curb radii, stone pavers, and layered streetscape elements introduced meaningful traffic calming. Mountable curbs provide flexibility for service and delivery vehicles, ensuring functionality without compromising the pedestrian-first vision.
A Walkable District, Reimagined
The streetscape reflects a thoughtful blend of materials and amenities designed to enrich the user experience. Asphalt pavement transitions to stone pavers, colored and plain concrete, and exposed aggregate amenity zones that define gathering areas and pedestrian corridors. Street trees, planters, benches, bike racks, and decorative lighting foster comfort and vibrancy, while colored concrete pavement clearly delineates parking areas within the redesigned streets.
Accessibility and resilience were central to the project’s execution. Sidewalk space was reallocated to widen pedestrian corridors and strengthen bicycle connectivity, creating a continuous and safe multimodal network. All curb ramps within the project limits were reconstructed to meet PROWAG standards wherever feasible, with non-standard feature justification reports prepared where geometric constraints existed. Extensive structural repairs to three areaways further reinforced the district’s long-term durability and performance.