Manhattan, NY In Greenwich Village, a new rooftop expansion and athletic center for the Grace Church School shows how urban institutions can make every inch count. Designed by Murphy Burnham & Buttrick Architect (MBB) to accommodate growth at the independent preparatory high school’s campus, this 14,000 s/f, double-height addition delivers highly flexible spaces full of sunlight for varied physical activities, academic uses, and events. Centered on a large, multipurpose gymnasium and new gathering areas, the expansion also adds offices, classrooms, locker rooms and storage facilities, as well as a new fitness center and golf simulator room.
Manhattan, NY A $50 million program of capital improvements at New York City’s Paramount Building has brought extensive upgrades and a lobby relocation designed to better accommodate modern tenant needs at the Times Sq. office tower. Commercial real estate services firm Levin Management Corp. (LMC) oversaw the renovation as owner’s construction representative. Fifield Piaker Elman Architects PC. served as the architect.
Rochester, NY Attendees celebrated the grand opening of the SWBR-designed RIT MAGIC Spell Studios, a new 52,000 s/f facility to converge strategic components of the university’s creative arts & media programs under one roof. The builder for the $17.2 million project was Welliver. Janson Tsai Design Associates was responsible for technical and acoustic design. “MAGIC Spell Studios is a landmark facility that uniquely embraces innovation, collaboration and entrepreneurship,” said SWBR principal Mark Maddalina. “It supports the convergence of computer game design, film, animation and digital media education in an inspiring, professional environment.”
Manhattan, NY CNY’s interiors division has completed the $3.2 million interior renovation of the 6,000 s/f lobby at The Chelsea Mercantile Building, a 354-unit condominium located at 252 Seventh Ave. Scott Yarmus, CNY interiors project executive, said, “Our work at Chelsea Mercantile was challenging due to an extensive demolition and reconstruction of existing lobby spaces in multiple phases, while maintaining a 24/7 active public entrance and egress for residents. All MEP and life safety systems remained operational during construction, and were then upgraded. We were pleased to collaborate with ODA Architecture and property manager RoseTerra Management LLC throughout the project.”
New York, NY WSP has acquired Louis Berger, a U.S.-headquartered leading international professional services firm. Louis Berger is mainly active in the transportation & infrastructure and environmental & water sectors, as well as in master planning; sectors and services that WSP has targeted for growth. The addition of Louis Berger will also reinforce WSP’s presence in the federal U.S. market as it has developed expertise and built experience in governmental contracts (including federal military and economic and institutional development).
Queens, NY A new upscale private residence features custom curtain wall fenestration and metal claddings fabricated by Gamco Corporation. Th...
Manhattan, NY Navillus Contracting, a New York City-based union construction company, is advancing multiple assignments as part of the Empire State Building’s fully reimagined observatory project, covering 75,000 s/f throughout. Empire State Realty Trust, owner and manager of the Empire State Building, is overseeing the upgrade of the property. While this project is underway, the 86th floor observatory remains open with uninterrupted visitor traffic. In August, Navillus completed the initial phase of its assignment with the opening of the Empire State Building’s new entrance at 20 West 34th St., which includes a detailed mosaic mural. The company is presently advancing a new phase of work focused on general trades and finishing carpentry work on other projects throughout the landmark.
New York , NY Jaimee Nardiello, a partner at construction law firm Zetlin & De Chiara LLP, will speak at the 2019 American Bar Association (ABA) Forum on Construction Law’s midwinter conference on Public Construction Projects: Not Always a Hollywood Ending. The conference will celebrate the town's creativity and vitality as it explores the characteristics of public construction.
Calverton, NY Developer The Engel Burman Group, partner and operator Northwell Health, and architect and engineer BBS Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers received site plan approval from the town of Riverhead for the 134,000 s/f, $90 million, six-building Wellbridge Residential Substance-Abuse Treatment Campus located on 40 undeveloped acres.
Webster, NY The New York Real Estate Journal conducted a question and answer session with Melissa Geska, president of US Ceiling Corp.
Q: So you’re a Rochester, N.Y. native?
A: I was born in Chili, N.Y., and raised in Rochester’s 19th Ward. My father emigrated to the U.S. from Jamaica with $16 to his name. During my childhood, he was a school principal, owned and renovated many properties, and also owned several gas stations and ice cream stores. He made Rochester his home because it was a great community to raise a family and the educational system was optimal.
