The design of the Davis Center marries architecture and landscape to reestablish the northern end of the Park as a vital resource for the surrounding community. Rendering: Susan T Rodriguez | Architecture • Design, provided by Central Park Conservancy.
Suzanne Charlé, Publications Committee | May 5, 2025
In Central Park, at the northern edge of the North Woods and on the southern edge of the Harlem Meer—two favorite birding spots—New York City Bird Alliance staff, along with many other groups, welcomed visitors to the new Davis Center. On the gray and windy April Saturday, hundreds of people eagerly gathered on the public green to participate in games, listen to music by marching bands and DJs from the Apollo Theater, and learn about Central Park Conservancy’s (CPC) new 34,000 square-foot community center and the programs being offered by local non-profits, including NYC Bird Alliance.
In its previous incarnation, the Lasker Pool and Rink was only open two seasons: in summer, it served swimmers with a huge but leaky pool and a children’s wading pool; in winter the pool was converted into two ice skating rinks. Now, the site is open all seasons, with a swimming pool that converts to one ice rink in winter. (Because the Central Park Conservancy wanted the stream coming out of the Loch to run directly into the Harlem Meer as architect Frederick Law Olmsted had originally designed it, the pool’s size was reduced by one-third.) In the “shoulder seasons” (spring and fall), the pool is covered with astro turf, creating a public green for local activities.
“More than just a facility, the Davis Center is a year-round hub for accessible, community-rooted programming,” said Darline Lalanne, Central Park Conservancy’s director of public programs, who added that in addition to NYC Bird Alliance, “we’re collaborating with partners like Multitasking Yogi and GoHardDance! to offer a robust lineup of free and low-cost programs.”
Planning for the eight-acre site started over three years ago, with the CPC and architects accepting public comments. NYC Bird Alliance underscored the importance of the site being bird-friendly, especially in light of its location between the Meer and the North Woods.
“I’m very excited to see the center open because it shows ways that a building in New York City can connect to nature,” said Dr. Dustin Partridge, director of conservation and science for NYC Bird Alliance. With its green roof, planted with native grasses and trees, and bird-safe glass, it is a model of what can be done to fit in with wildlife, which is particularly important now that Local Law 15 requires bird-friendly building design.
Steven Bopp, studio director of planning for Central Park Conservancy, said that the landscape required a mix of native plant species for different zones, such as aquatic plants near the stream flowing from the Ravine and Loch to the Meer. The Davis Center’s green roof, which is exposed to the sun, on the other hand, is planted with native grasses, flowering shrubs and trees such as White and Pitch Pines and Pin Oaks which can stand the heat and dryness. Many plants, such as wild raspberries and blackberries and swamp roses are also valuable food sources for birds. The re-expanded Harlem Meer and revegetated island now offer a greater site for waterbirds, such as egrets, cormorants, and herons.
But clearly the greatest advantage is the design of the Davis Center. With its green roof and huge pivoting doors, natural ventilation keeps the building cool for its human visitors. Meanwhile, the birds refrain from visiting the center: its huge glass doors and skylights are made with Ornilux bird-safe glass from Germany. Unlike earlier versions of films that make windows visible to birds, Ornilux’s UV-reflective patterns are visible to birds but virtually transparent to the human eye. (American Bird Conservancy worked with the manufacturer in its design and has validated the glass.) The project team—CPC’s former chief landscape architect, Christopher Nolan, in collaboration with architects Mitchell Giurgola and Susan T. Rodrigues—designed the space with LEED Gold Certification in mind.
NYC Bird Alliance will lead bird outings and offer lectures this spring and fall at the Davis Center. (The location is perfect: An easy walk through the Huddlestone Arch leads to the Loch, one of the park’s best birding sites. On the day of the opening, birders reported seeing an Ovenbird, Wood Thrush, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Prairie Warbler, and Mandarin Duck, as well as the usual suspects.) The idea for the partnership came up after Jessica Wilson, executive director of NYC Bird Alliance, connected with staff of Central Park Conservancy at the Fall Roost fundraiser.
“As one of our key Harlem Oval partners, NYC Bird Alliance brings invaluable expertise and passion to our shared mission of connecting people with nature,” Darline Lalanne noted.
“Central Park is a vital refuge for nearly 300 bird species year-round,” said Jessica Wilson. “NYC Bird Alliance is proud to partner with Central Park Conservancy on programming at the new Davis Center, which will enrich wildlife habitat and connect more New Yorkers to the joys of birding in this urban biodiversity hotspot.”
