According to Spacesmith, the New York Police Department's Auto Pound in Springfield Gardens has been completed. The need for a new facility grew out of the plan to relocate the Auto Pound from its previous home in College Point to make way for a new police academy. Situated on 12.64 acres, the building is 10,000 s/f.
The scope of work included coordination with civil engineers for the layout of the grounds around the compound. Located within a fenced and secure area at the edge of the JFK International Airport, the area contains long term storage for up to 4,000 automobiles impounded by the NYPD. The building includes a public redemption area, open plan workstations, enclosed offices, locker rooms, stress reduction room and archive area. The facility also has a large canopy that shields several inspection stations from inclement weather.
The design is an exercise in reductive geometry; the administrative functions are housed within a simple rectangular volume that is juxtaposed by the overlapping canopy structure, producing counter-rotated rectangular shapes. Ribbon windows punctuate the façade, let in natural light and add a sense of linear movement. With a clean design aesthetic, sustainable features and sleek materiality, the architecture of the NYPD Auto Pound instills a sense of place to an otherwise utilitarian support center and provides a signal to the community that the city cares enough to provide the neighborhood with a first class facility.
The following items were utilized to achieve a LEED Silver rating: An aluminum composite panel cladding system, reflective PVC roof membrane, a geothermal heat pump system, energy recovery units, low-flow plumbing fixtures, energy efficient lighting fixtures and Low-E double insulated glazing.
The project team included: architect, Spacesmith; project manager, Hudson Meridian Construction Group; MEP engineer, MG Engineering PC; structural engineer, Hage Engineering; civil engineer, Langan Engineering & Environmental Services; environmental consultant, e4, inc.; telecommunication consultant, MG Engineering PC; site civil, HDR; specifications, Construction Specifications, Inc.; geothermal, Alderson Engineering, Inc.; and security, Security by Design Wireworks.
About Spacesmith:
Spacesmith is a full-service architecture, interior design and consulting firm specializing for over twenty years in interior renovation, adaptive reuse and new building for our private and public sector clients. Spacesmith is a versatile Woman Owned Business Enterprise with a team of highly skilled architects, interior designers, space planners and project managers. The firm's recognized clients include schools, public agencies, finance, apparel, advertising, public relations and media companies and not-for-profit organizations. Our partnership with Davis Brody Bond provides Spacesmith with additional resources to deliver interior architecture and design services at any scale and location to clients across a wide range of sectors. We are aligned under one roof to strengthen our services and expand our creative boundaries. Davis Brody Bond is among the nation's leading architectural design firms. Founded in 1952, the 120 person firm is headquartered in New York City with offices in Washington, DC; Seattle, Washington; and São Paulo, Brazil. Tags: