Beneath the Williamsburg Bridge sits the Delancey trolley terminal, out of service for more than 60 years. A revolutionary project, called the Lowline, is transforming this under-utilized space into the world’s first underground park. The project has engaged the local community, and generated conversation and awareness over the importance of green spaces for healthy living, while also showcasing technical ingenuity and creativity.

The Lowline Lab opened to the public this spring to serve as a testing ground and promote the concept while the full project continues to develop. The lab is designed to support a thriving and evolving ecosystem with adaptive (some even edible) plants, fed by active solar harvesting technology that “pipes” light in from large rooftop collectors.

Members of the multidisciplinary team will discuss in detail the innovative design, research and technologies used to bring plants (and people) below ground, and the ongoing testing, monitoring and measuring that will enable them to realize the full vision and join the ranks of other NYC parks that have turned abandoned spaces into urban oases.