Manhattan, NY Navillus Contracting has been awarded the contract for masonry at IS323, a new, seven-story, intermediate public school located at 75 Morton St. The new school is being constructed on the site of a former 100 year old hospital, and developed by the NYC School Construction Authority (SCA). The project calls for Navillus to install 36,000 s/f of a terracotta rainscreen façade, 2,400 s/f of a granite base, and 60,000 s/f of interior CMU. Navillus will also be working alongside general contractor, Leon D. DeMatteis Construction Corp., to complete this project.
This is one of the first times the three-part Terracotta Rainscreen System – which includes masonry backup, aluminum framework, and the terracotta rainscreen tile – will be used in a NYC public school. The new system was initiated by SCA design consultant, John Ciardullo, P.C., and supplied and manufactured by NBK Germany.
The terracotta rainscreen system offers a blend of traditional looking facade finish with modern installation techniques. Due to terracotta’s durability, the system offers very low need for continuing maintenance over the building’s lifetime.
“We are excited to help build this new public school and install the terracotta rainscreen system, which will be the first time this innovative system has been employed in a New York City public school,” said Donal O’Suillivan, owner and president ofNavillus Contracting. “This terracotta system — cost efficient, easy to install, and aesthetically pleasing — is becoming more and more popular as a replacement for traditional brickwork and modern curtain walling. We anticipate that this process will eventually become the norm.”
The masonry forms the backbone of the terracotta system, in which the aluminum framework is installed to the masonry backup and the terracotta tile is then easily inserted into the aluminum framework.
Navillus Contracting began work in August 2016, with all components of the old building demolished except for the substructure and superstructure, which will remain and be incorporated into the new school building with the new facade and interior fit-out.
Construction on the new school — located between Greenwich Street and Hudson Street — will be completed for occupancy by fall of 2018. Ciardullo is the project architect.
Navillus Contracting has won numerous industry awards for quality and performance, including a prestigious safety award from the Building Trades Employers’ Association (BTEA).
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