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 house was moved from the Brown family (one of the original five families who arrived in Orient in 1642) property in the Village to this site on Brown Hill overlooking the Orient Harbor in 1929. To make this home a year-round residence, Nelligan White created a contemporary addition to attach to the original structure.…
While repairing the building enclosure we saw an opportunity to transform the nondescript building into a place that speaks to its civic function, and at the same time to greatly increase the building’s energy performance. The new facades will employ a terracotta rain-screen system incorporating mineral wool insulation, air and vapor barrier, and waterproofing membrane.…
Unprecedented at the time of completion in 1996, the two-story, 7,500 square-foot library served as a demonstration project for the concept of environmentally responsive design techniques. By incorporating active daylighting controls, passive solar heating, and environmentally friendly materials, we were able to minimize energy consumption, operating costs, and maintenance demands. The library received the Queens…
As part of an idea competition titled “Connections: The Gowanus Lowline,” our proposal envisions a mixed-use neighborhood called the “Gowanus Embankment,” redeveloping the Gowanus Basin as an economic hub. Our team proposed significant regrading to protect residential zones from future flooding and prioritization of hazardous waste removal.
Under the direction of Michael L. Radoslovich, PS 111 M was designed in 1956 for a Midtown West lot on 53rd street, located between 9th and 10th Avenues. Completed in 1958, the school is an example of postwar architecture in New York City Public Schools. PS 111 M comprises three primary components. The first piece,…
PS 50 Manhattan is a 1974 school building constructed as part of a brutalist residential complex overlooking the East River. The structure consists of a reinforced concrete frame with masonry infill. Exposed floor slabs create a layering effect which, paired with the cast-in-place stair towers and diagonally oriented mechanical bulkhead, results in a sense of…
The storm surge catalyzed by Superstorm Sandy flooded the cellar and submerged the boiler room of Lavanburg Homes for several days. The saltwater brought on by this storm effectively destroyed or severely damaged all mechanical and electrical systems in the cellar. Although maintenance personnel and emergency contractors made strides to replace the damaged mechanical equipment,…
After performing an extensive analysis to determine how best to achieve long-term energy cost savings, we built a model to replace the failing brick masonry façade and deteriorating single-glazed glass structure with a high-performance aluminum curtain wall and insulated glass system. With the implementation of this character-defining design, we were able to reinvigorate a neighborhood…
Though the building’s systems had survived previous storms, the Superstorm Sandy tidal surge caused unprecedented damage. The first-floor space of all three towers and the community center were inundated by several feet of water. Furthermore, the mechanical and electrical systems were significantly damaged as boilers and critical systems were permanently destroyed. The development is still…