New buildings constructed in high risk flood zones are designed for flood resistance based on FEMA FIRM maps. The Whitney Museum of American Art, adjacent to the Hudson River, had been designed to the 100-year flood level based on 2007 FIRM data. When Superstorm Sandy hit in 2012, the building was midway through construction. Sandy exceeded the design flood level by 1.22m (4ft). Unwilling to risk future damage to their art collections, the Whitney proactively engaged flood mitigation experts and a research institute from Germany who used historic flood data and statistical analysis to determine a new design water level. The challenge was then supporting the new flood gates, flood doors, and mobile flood barriers, while preserving the architecture and the structure already installed. Open since 2015the year NYC adopted FIRMs increasing the 100-year flood level by 0.91m (3ft)the Whitney is protected by a flood mitigation solution that is prepared for the risk of future rising flood levels.
