Extensive exterior surveys we conducted in 2015 revealed masonry failures such as cracking, spalling, and missing mortar, as well as minimal reinforcement of the face block to the wall behind it, creating potentially unsafe conditions for students and community residents. Our assessments indicated the need to replace the existing face masonry and waterproof the backup…
The Mandell School, founded in 1939 for early childhood education, originally consisted of the basement and ground floor of a residential home on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Recently, the school expanded to occupy the entire 4,000 square foot building plus a 400 square foot addition on the south side of the building. This…
IS 77 Queens represents an early example of the Type-A school, a popularized building concept from the turn of the 20th century designed to be constructed rapidly for growing neighborhoods. Nearly a century later, the five-story, 135,000 square-foot structure was no longer fit to contemporary standards. Experiencing extensive water-infiltration damage, Nelligan White was tapped to…
As part of Nelligan White’s first term collaboration with the New York City School Construction Authority, PS 71 Bronx required both interior and exterior renovations. The original school facility was constructed in 1925 as an L-shaped building along Roberts Avenue on the north and Hobart Avenue on the west. In 1929, an addition was built along…
Originally a double-loaded plan, we opened up the center spine of the space to maximize daylight circulation for a communal area that doubles as a lounge and meeting space. In expanding the facility, we implemented low environmental impact materials as part of our design, allowing for an electric lighting load of 1.3-watt per-square-foot. The result…
To overcome a cramped and otherwise inadequate space for teaching and creating art, Nelligan White’s redesign of the PS 69 Bronx art room includes new bookshelves, storage bins, drying racks, an interactive projection screen, damage-resistant furniture, and new tables strategically placed to facilitate communal learning. A continuous aluminum picture rail and large sliding tack boards…
Nelligan White was tasked with the responsibility of reviewing and recording building deficiencies that relate directly and indirectly to energy consumption. We examined PS 126 Manhattan, PS 129 Manhattan, and PS 140 Manhattan in order to provide recommendations for the SCA. Nelligan White observed building failures in the roofs, parapets, windows, doors, and exterior masonry,…
As part of the investigatory work for this project, Nelligan White carefully observed, recorded, and mapped exterior and interior damage at the school. Exterior and interior exploratory probes and spray tests were conducted. Laboratory testing of face brick, face brick mortar, backup brick and backup brick mortar for compressive strength, absorption, and chemical composition was…
After a comprehensive water infiltration survey of the 99,500 square-foot building, we determined that the damage was a result of a failing parapet wall and waterproof roofing. In order to arrest the deterioration of the exterior shell and the water intrusion at the upper levels, we executed a replacement of the brick masonry and the…
Over time, general wear and tear, compounded by areas of repair-induced damage, had taken their toll on the building. The original overhang and parapet, featuring terra-cotta roof tiles, decorative pergola, and screens, were removed, and water infiltration had caused extensive damage to areas directly below the roof. To restore the building, we performed selective repairs…