ARCHITECTURE New York State | Q2 | June '18

NEW YORK STATE

ARCHITECTURE

Q2 | JUNE ’18

A P U B L I C AT I O N O F

Public Architecture

Highlighting Our

Excelsior Award

Recipients

LETTER PRESIDENT’S

What Does Community Mean to You? While the traditional definition suggests a common physical location, the term has evolved into more of an identity; something we choose through a process of self-discovery based on shared interests and circumstances that bring us together with shared common attitudes, interests, and goals. As members of AIA New York State, we work collectively to shape the profession of architecture— to learn, teach, mentor, and give back to the many communities in which we serve.

One of the benefits of our architectural community is that we can recognize the exceptional work of our members through our award programs. In this issue, we’re highlighting our recent Excelsior Award recipients, showcasing the best in publicly funded buildings, landscapes, and public art across New York State, along with the teams of professionals who contributed to the success of these environments.

The magnitude and breadth of publicly funded projects statewide create structures and landscapes that enhance our daily interactions and benefit our communities as a whole.

The Excelsior Awards allow us this wonderful opportunity to provide well-deserved recognition to the creative visionaries that make these outstanding works a reality.

Twelve projects were recognized for Awards in categories including Historic Preservation, New Construction, Renovations/Additions, Landscape Architecture, and Public Art with the latter two being new categories this year.

Each provides for a unique story—the renovation of a vacant landmarked building to a theatre, restaurant, and adjacent public park; affordable housing that incorporates sustainability, safety, and a resident-based food grow program; and a collaborative public engagement art project consisting of 7,000 sculpturally arranged pinwheels exhibiting artwork made by the public, just to name a few.

In addition to honoring the recipients at an awards reception held back on April 30, in Albany, NY, we dedicate this issue to sharing their valuable stories with you.

Kirk Narburgh, AIA 2018 President | AIA New York State

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LETTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S

Listening to Jane Frederick, FAIA and Jessica Sheridan, AIA Last week, the largest design conference ever to take place in the history of the American Institute of Architects was held in New York City.

For me, it was a time to reflect and reconnect with members I had not seen in quite some time, learn from the wisdom of my fellow Executive Directors and be amazed at the innovative products and services available to our members.

At the onset of the conference, the assembled delegates had an opportunity to listen to then candidates Jane Frederick, who was running for 2020 President and Jessica Sheridan a candidate for the 2019-2021 At-Large Director.

I was struck, but not surprised, at the passion of these two leaders. At the beginning of her speech, Jane discussed the three generations of women who came before her and the differences they’ve made in their communities. During this year’s Grassroots Assembly, Jane talked about the empowerment of architects to solve their community’s problems. What a powerful philosophy this leader of the profession is bringing to the American Institute of Architects. What a powerful charge it is, to you, to continue your good work.

Some examples of architects making a difference in our communities is the work of our members in the AIA Buffalo/Western New York Chapter. They volunteered their time to conduct existing conditions assessments and are working on bring several VFW Posts up to code, including the tireless pursuit of financing resources to continue their work. There is the work of our members at AIA Central New York preserving a sense of community in working with the Department of Transportation with a solution to the I-81 redirect, and our members at the AIA New York Chapter who are providing life changing work in their initiatives relative to affordable housing. These community based projects are occurring all over New York State, and the members of AIA are an integral part of making it happen.

As a member of the Counsel of Architectural Component Executives (CACE), Jessica Sheridan’s statement resonated with me in a different way. Jessica is quoted as saying, “We are experiencing a pivotal moment at AIA, connecting with our membership is more important now than ever. We need to be ambitious and proactive. The AIA must think boldly and aspirationally about our profession.”

You are so right Jessica, this is of primary importance to all, but especially to those of us who are responsible for making sure members are given the opportunity for collaboration and providing them with the tools they need. We here at AIANYS have embraced this challenge, providing specialized educational and networking opportunities. In the next year, we will be releasing a series of short but relevant videos. Some of them will be interviews with our leadership that hopefully will be used as a basis for discussion at local Chapters, some will be short but insightful resources dedicated to leadership and the practice.

These two newly elected leaders of the AIA certainly have the pulse of the practice and the membership at the forefront, joining a long line of leaders at all levels of the American Institute of Architects. What a incredible profession you have chosen. To paraphrase Jane Frederick’s recent press statement, “architects don’t talk about the future, they can create it.”

In this issue of the Quarterly, we see award-winning projects that will contribute to the future. But isn’t that the case of all of your work? From the smallest project to absolute largest project on the books you can make that difference, you are making a difference in our lives.

Congratulations Jane and Jessica and Happy Birthday to the USA. Have a great Fourth of July.

Georgi Ann Bailey, CAE, Hon. AIANYS Executive Director | AIA New York State | gabailey@aianys.org | 518.449.3334 Q2 | JUNE 2018 | PAGE | 3

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CONTENTS

LETTERS President’s Letter................................ 2 Executive Director’s Letter.................... 3

2018 EXCELSIOR AWARD RECIPIENTS Historic Preservation | Award of Merit Child’s Building at the Ford Amphitheater and Seaside Park - Coney Island............ 6 Landscape Architecture | Award of Merit Midtown Rising Redevelopment............. 8 New Construction | Honor Award Wedgepoint Apartments......................10 New Construction | Award of Merit New Visitor Center at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center........... 12 New Construction | Award of Merit Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University at Buffalo.........................................14 Public Art | Award of Merit The Connective Project.......................16

Renovation | Addition Award of Merit Queensborough Community College Science Building Courtyard Enclosure... 22 Renovation | Addition Honor Award Moynihan Train Hall and Farley Building Redevelopment Phase 1 New West End Concourse.................... 26 Renovation | Addition Award of Merit SUNY College of Optometry Lobby and Center for Student Life & Learning...... 28 Renovation | Addition Award of Merit PS 50 Manhattan Greenhouse.............. 30

AIANYS UPDATES Government Advocacy....................... 33 Knowledge....................................... 34 Public Advocacy............................... 34

Renovation | Addition Honor Award George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery, Odyssey House..................................18 Renovation | Addition Honor Award PS 50Q Addition............................... 20 Q2 | JUNE 2018 | PAGE | 5

Sources of PUBLIC financing The source of public-private funding included $60 million from the offices of the Brooklyn Borough President, the New York City Council and the Mayor.

Submitted by Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel, Architects DPC | New York, NY Photo Credits: Diane Kaese & Adrian Wilson

Historic Preservation | Award of Merit Child’s Building at the Ford Amphitheater and Seaside Park – Coney Island

SUPPORTING THE GROWTH OF CONEY ISLAND

Revitalizing the Amusement District and Improving Infrastructure Restaurant Corporation. It was designed as if it washed up out of the sea; sand colored stucco walls dripping with exquisite terra cotta ornament that included ships, seaweed, fish, crabs and lobsters, snails and Neptune captured the imagination and wallets of passers-by.

T

he former Child’s Restaurant Boardwalk in Coney Island is a rare remnant of the old Coney Island of the early 20th century. The building is a deceptively large masonry box that has recently found new life as back-of-house facilities, stage and box office. It also houses a new 400-seat restaurant with a 90-foot bar, a rooftop bar and several kitchens and refreshment centers.

The landmarked building was constructed in 1923 by the Child’s PAGE | 6 | Q2 | JUNE 2018

The restaurant eventually closed after World War II. There were also several attempts to redevelop the property, success culminated in 2012, when a massive team was put together by a New York Real Estate firm to restore and redevelop the building. Working with the New York City Economic Development Corporation, City-owned adjacent land and former street beds to the west of the structure were incorporated into a plan to provide space for 5,000 seats and a one+ acre park. The unique public/private partnership, along with the strong political support of the retiring Borough President, was critical in creating the successful project.

Pre-Construction started in the fall of 2014. The amphitheater and park opened in the summer of 2016, and the restaurant and bars opened for the 2017 summer season. However, it wasn’t all that easy.

The location next to the ocean exposed the building to some of the best and worst Mother Nature offers. The western wall acted as a firebreak for a massive multi-block fire in 1932. The physical damage to the brick required the removal and replacement of the exterior wythe of brick. Salvaged common brick with similar physical properties was located and installed.

Thirty-six glazes were developed from over 600 samples and a total of 752 new pieces were replicated for the building, 102 were salvaged and reset, and 171 were repaired on site. Extreme care was taken to match the original as closely as possible.

The replacement stucco was chosen to match the current beach sand color and given a rough wood float finish to match the original design intent. Existing metal grilles were restored; new replacement slate was installed in the “blank” window at the east elevation. Granite entrance slabs and bases along the boardwalk were replaced and in some locations reset.

New, albeit simplified, decorative leaders again obscure the waterspouts of the “fish” medallions, hiding a wonderful visual whimsy.

In addition to the preservation of the building, a tensile fabric structure covers the 5,000-seat amphitheater to the west of the building. A one-acre community/public park was developed at the far western edge of the project.

During the off-season, the amphitheater reverts to public park space. After decaying for years, the flagship of the Child’s Restaurant chain is ready for a new, year-round life along Coney Islands’ Riegelmann boardwalk.

What is the greater social value of the project?

The Child’s Building and amphitheater is part of a series of investments made by the city in the past decade to revitalize the amusement district and improve infrastructure to support the growth of Coney Island. By producing a year round dining and entertainment space as well as the seasonal amphitheater, the opening of

The park provides for social interaction and as a link and visual corridor from West 21st Street to the Riegelmann Boardwalk. The playground element of the park provides an active environment for children and a gathering space for parents and adults. The amphitheater, aside from scheduled events, hosts community events such movie nights and school graduation ceremonies.

Kitchen 21 has created 138 new jobs, nearly 75% of which have gone to Brooklyn residents. The Ford Amphitheater and adjacent Kitchen 21 have created 300 living wage jobs in Coney Island. Now coming into another season of spring/summer concerts, the amphitheater continues to bring large crowds back to the boardwalk every weekend.

Aside from the basic function provided by the project, the development is knitted into the community through the public park element to the west, as well as the use of the amphitheater for local community functions.

As the project moved forward, numerous initiatives were undertaken to offer trainings to laborers onsite. Classes included flagmen and OSHA 10 training as well as individualized classes for specific trades, such as the terracotta restoration. Now that it is open, the Ford Amphitheater and Seaside Park Community Arts Center continues to be a site of learning and training for food and hospitality workers.

How does the project contribute to the life of its surrounding community?

The Child’s Building and amphitheater is part of a series of investments made by the city in the past decade to revitalize the amusement district and improve infrastructure to support the growth of Coney Island.

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Sources of PUBLIC financing NYS Empire State Development Corporation, City of Rochester, Rochester Economic Development Corporation, Federal Housing and Urban Development funding, Omnibus Bill.

100% of total construction cost comes from public funds.

Submitted by Trowbridge Wolf Michaels Landscape Architects LLP | Rochester, NY Photo Credit | Š David Lamb Photography

Landscape Architecture | Award of Merit Midtown Rising Redevelopment, Rochester, NY

REJUVENATING DOWNTOWN ROCHESTER

Redevelopment Functioning as a Catalyst

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he Midtown Rising redevelopment project functioned as a catalytic project in the revitalization of downtown Rochester. Public infrastructure and public space amenities, along with infrastructure upgrades, were critical in reinvigorating private investment in the heart of Rochester’s urban core.

What is the greater social value of the project?

Demolition of the former Midtown Plaza indoor shopping mall eliminated a vacant and derelict property that was an eyesore in downtown. It also allowed for the creation of a new mixed-use district that gives people and businesses an incentive to move back into the walkable, urban core.

A design challenge was to provide a performance space that, when vacant, does not appear empty.

How does the project contribute to the life of its surrounding community?

The project served as a catalyst for renewed interest downtown.

New restaurants and retail stores have already moved in, and an entertainment complex is slated for the next project.

Along with the fully programmed public space, these recent developments attract new residents as well as suburbanites to live and work downtown.

Stone dust provides an auditory and textural contrast to other materials. Stormwater infiltration and adjacent bioretention planters provide stormwater treatment.

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Sources of PUBLIC financing Wedgepoint Apartments is supported through various funding sources including New York State.

Submitted by SWBR Architects | Rochester, NY Photo Credit | © David Lamb Photography

New Construction | Honor Award Wedgepoint Apartments, Rochester, NY

DESIGNING WITH SOCIAL EQUITY IN MIND

Achieving a Healthy Density through Social, Economic and Cultural Interactions

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edgepoint Apartments is a 60-unit affordable housing project in the South wedge Neighborhood of Rochester, New York.

Designed with social equity in mind, Wedgepoint achieves a healthy density through maximizing social, economic and cultural interactions.

While still in concept, the team engaged with the developer, the Business Association of the South wedge (BASWA) and the South wedge Planning Committee (SWPC) by having working sessions to discuss the design intent and lay the framework for an inclusive design process. What was iterated across the constituents was a deep need for the building to integrate with the surrounding neighborhood and not be isolated and fenced in. The ground level has retail and commercial space which helped tremendously in allowing it to be open and inviting. Large commercial sized windows line the façades for high

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visibility from the street and to allow natural light into the interior.

The main entry is at the backside corner of the “L” shaped building.

Perceived as two buildings, the entry is a two-story space outside with a bridge connecting the 3rd and 4th levels.

The bridge allows the lower two levels outside to pass by the entry, similar to a breezeway, and terminate into the courtyard space. Walk up units on the first floor line the courtyard and provide security for the children on the

playground as well as a pleasant view.

The 4th level has an outdoor terrace with large planter boxes for a resident-based food grow program. The terrace faces south with a strong visual connection to the courtyard below, and grander views of the South wedge Neighborhood in the distance.

The project celebrates the populations it serves by being energy efficient and sustainable; minimizing the living costs so more of their dollars can be used for other necessities.

Inside, right off the lobby is the resident common space that offers a central gathering space for lounging and programmed activities. More than half of the building has single loaded corridors which allows windows to bring in natural light, minimizing artificial light usage.

Sustainability was an integral component of the design from the beginning. People of this population in Rochester typically spend up to 25% of their income on energy bills, which is way above the 6% national “energy poverty” level. By making the building more energy efficient, more dollars earned can be used for necessities for a better way of life.

What is the greater social value of the project?

From a passive perspective, the design incorporates shading devices over windows on the west and south façades, and promotes cross ventilation on the site by the carving out building space between the courtyard and the main entry.

Connecting the two buildings with a bridge eliminated a code required exit stair, reducing common space costs. On the lower two levels of building “B,” two-story walk up units were provided, eliminating corridors. The unique unit configuration—a three dimensional “L” shape where the upper level is perpendicular to the lower level—allows every unit to get views of the parking lot and the courtyard.

Actively the project included the 2011 Enterprise for Green Communities program as well as Energy Star Certified Homes Version 3.1 and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) low-rise Residential New construction Program. These three rating systems worked synergistically to produce a healthy, thermally comfortable efficient building.

Each unit has a tankless water heater for hot water which also supplies the home heating through running water across a hydronic coil. In addition, the NYSERDA program required blower door testing of the units that hold minimum standards for air leakage which translates into better efficiencies with energy usage.

How does the project contribute to the life of its surrounding community?

The commercial space includes tenants that cater to unmet community needs, provides jobs to residents and services to tenants and the community.

The property has been vacant for over 10 years and was taken by the City of Rochester through tax foreclosure and sold to the current owner. Prior to demolition, the site housed one of the most notorious properties in the City – a partially vacant motel that had become a magnet for criminal activity. It was a vacant eyesore on a critical intersection between three major linkages into the downtown area and surrounding City neighborhoods.

The project meets the need for mixed-income housing in a strong mixed-income neighborhood that was recently designated a National Historic District. Wedgepoint is situated at the entrance to the South wedge Neighborhood, one of Rochester’s most culturally and economically diverse communities just blocks from downtown.

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Sources of PUBLIC financing Phase 1: Guided School Program building was built. This project was fully funded by New York Works and the State Environmental Protection Fund.

Submitted by ENVISION Architects | Albany, NY Photo Credit | Liz LaJeunesse Photography

New Construction | Award of Merit New Visitor Center at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, Delmar, NY

GETTING KIDS OUTSIDE TO EXPERIENCE NATURE FIRST-HAND

The Result of a Grass Roots, Local Community Effort to Form an Environmental Education Center

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n June 1972, Five Rivers Educational Center was born through a group of concerned citizens who lobbied the State to make important use of the site after decades of various other uses for the grounds. Forty-five years later in June 2017, the Center opened the new Interpretive Visitor Center. The Visitor Center at Five Rivers was commissioned by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) with the intent to promote exploration of the natural outdoors, cultural history and interpret the site’s unique sense of place.

The state-of-the-art Visitor Center is a memorable host of outdoor experiences.

The Center welcomes visitors to experience exhibits through the senses of sight, sounds, smell and touch, uniting them with the environment.

More than 70,000 visitors come to Five Rivers annually for public, school and youth programs focused on the natural history and ecology of the grounds, using hands-on science demonstrations. The Center and the grounds it personifies, promote discovery and education, physi-

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cal fitness and spiritual well-being.

Carefully designed and placed exhibits and interactive displays create connections with visitors’ surroundings, inspiring exploration.

Cost efficiencies were realized by drilling geothermal wells, updating all electric systems, installing conduits for data lines, and pouring footings for supports when the Phase 1: Guided School Program building was built.

The Visitor Center features a large exhibit hall with interactive displays that showcase the meadows, ponds, forests and birds of Five Rivers. Wayne Trimm, long-time artistic director of the Conservationist Magazine who

recently passed away at age 95, painted a mural of plants, animals and habitats found at the Center in the early 1990s.

It was transferred from the old center and is now a featured display in the exhibit hall.

The exhibits feature habitats and animals found at Five Rivers. The displays are interactive and multi-sensory, and topics include pond habitat, birds, forests, meadow and history timeline. Always a favorite of children, the touch table is one of the first displays seen as you enter the building, and the live animals in the terrariums are always popular.

A bird of prey that cannot be released into the wild and a working beehive can be found in the exhibit hall. A wall of impressive wing displays covers one of the classroom’s walls, and animal mounts and information on green features are throughout the building.

A history timeline showcases Five Rivers’ unique sense of history as a game farm, Civilian Conservation Corps camp, “wildlife zoo,” and environmental education center. Children can don a

ist Intern Program. These interns have become educators, wildlife biologists, researchers and nature center directors.

The new Center affords interns a comprehensive educational experience with not only habitats and field biology, but the green building and sustainable features provided a showcase for actions that can be done at home by the public. farmer’s hat and shirt, colonial girl’s dress, and DEC staff clothing and have their picture taken in front of a pull-down screen depicting a scene from one of the stages of Five Rivers’ history.

The 9,500 sf single-story, wood frame structure complements the character of the environment and adjoins the project with the Phase 1: Guided School Program building by a breezeway covered by a sloped translucent canopy.

This space offers outdoor opportunities for educational events and small gatherings. Solar canopies are integrated throughout the building’s roof design showcased by pockets of vegetated green roofs.

The whole facility engages the landscape beautifully, including the thoughtfully designed low-profile roof lines, and earth tone color palettes and natural materials, cued by natural surroundings.

The interior design includes a welcoming, peaceful environment with liberal use of windows and skylights creating views to draw visitors outside.

The design is driven by highly sustainable, innovative green strategies.

These include wood columns harvested on the Center’s grounds, vegetated green roofing system, rainwater harvesting

systems, geothermal ground source heating and cooling, photovoltaic panels, native landscaping, bird-friendly design and permeable pavers and bioswales.

The new Visitors Center is LEED Platinum Certified.

What is the greater social value of the project?

Getting kids outside to experience first-hand the lessons and beauty of nature is the best way to get them involved in environmental stewardship for a lifetime. Environmental literacy is the foundation for sound decisions on complex environmental issues. By providing opportunities for New Yorkers to experience nature directly, Five Rivers Center instills lifelong interests in environmental stewardship and outdoor pursuits.

Generations of New Yorkers have visited the Center as part of a Guided School Program, scout troop, or school service project—now they return with their children to have them experience the same thrill of discovery to identify their first bird or look for critters in a stream.

Five Rivers Center has long trained interns in the field of environmental education through the Student Conservation Association Hudson Valley AmeriCorps Program and DEC’s Natural-

How does the project contribute to the life of its surrounding community?

Five Rivers Center is a result of a grass roots, local community effort coming together to form an environmental education center. DEC’s partnership with the Friends of Five Rivers is an important public/private model that has been a showcase for nearly five decades for inspiring and training thousands of environmental leaders and encouraging community involvement, participation, and environmental stewardship.

With the new Visitor Center, local community members have a greater sense of place and ownership, which is critical to offering quality programs and services to all visitors.

Five Rivers’ new Visitor Center was made possible due to Governor Cuomo’s interest in providing opportunities for New Yorkers to explore our natural environment through outdoor education and recreation. As the DEC implements Adventure NY, a new effort to connect New York State families and visitors to the great outdoors, the Five Rivers Visitor Center will continue to play a central role in inspiring visitors to experience the joys of nature.

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Sources of PUBLIC financing Eighty-six percent from Public Funds.

The Project was made possible by Governor Andrew Cuomo signing into law the NYSUNY 2020 bill in 2011 and funding was provided by the State and UB capital appropriations and the support of the UB Foundation.

Submitted by HOK | New York, NY Photo Credits | Douglas Levere, University at Buffalo & HOK

New Construction | Award of Merit Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY

FOSTERING WORLD-CLASS MEDICAL, RESEARCH AND PATIENT CARE

Revitalizing the Downtown Buffalo Environment in the Regions Emerging Biosciences Corridor

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he new downtown building for the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences creates a dynamic, multidisciplinary environment that fosters world-class medical, research and patient care in a revitalized downtown Buffalo environment.

Located at the center of the region’s emerging biosciences corridor at the Buffalo Niagara Campus, the school returns to its historic roots on High Street, where it was located from 1893 until 1953, and is the largest construction project in the university’s 171-year history and is Buffalo’s first building with an NFTA Metro Rail station inside. The new TOD Medical School will anchor a lively, urban mixed-use district and bring 1,200 students, faculty and staff to downtown Buffalo. With the goal of fostering collaboration and interdisciplinary care, the new academic medical school will create connections that allow students, faculty, biomedical PAGE | 14 | Q2 | JUNE 2018

researchers and clinicians to move easily from classroom to bedside to lab. The seven-story light filled atrium provides visibility and connections to foster learning and training in an innovative teaching environment with science on display and to foster cross-disciplinary collaborations among physicianscientists, faculty and students.

What is the greater social value of the submission?

The Building becomes a new hub to strengthen the regions’ academic health center - composed of research, teaching and clinical partners centrally located on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

The project revitalizes downtown Buffalo and creates a transit oriented development as a new heart to the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. It strengthens health care in the community by addressing local and national physician shortages by expanding class

size by 25 percent to 180 medical school students. The building enables the School of Medicine to recruit 100 world-class physician-scientists and medical specialists to pioneer new treatments and help advance medical care worldwide while also increasing access to new, groundbreaking medical treatments and therapies to the Buffalo community.

New students and research will become part of the greater Buffalo community.

Not only does the building transform the Buffalo Niagara Medical Center campus and Allentown but the project also contributes to the legacy of great architecture and urban design of Buffalo.

The design team approached the project after a thorough analysis of the texture of the city and its history, quality and craft throughout Buffalo’s great architecture. The exterior is clad in locally sourced terra cotta, designed to evoke Buffalo’s rich architectural palette, the vibrant colors found in Buffalo’s Art

How does the project contribute to the life of its surrounding community?

The building massing is comprised of two L-shaped buildings surrounding a central atrium. Large expanses of glass connect Allen Street and Washington Street facades to the atrium – which becomes the new public heart of the medical school and surrounding campus. The skylight and glass enclosed atrium has been designed to harvest daylight and to provide ample daylight to lab spaces, offices and conference rooms while the dynamic arrangement of fenestrations and pedestrian canopies reinforce the slope of Main Street and movement around the perimeter of the site. With less than 40% vision glass the project is anticipated to achieve a LEED Gold rating.

Deco City Hall, the Darwin House and the Guarantee Building. The project is knit into the fabric of the community by providing connections between the Allentown community and the Buffalo Niagara Campus, connections to the NFTA Station and a future bridged connection to adjacent hospital structures.

The Jacobs School is integrated into the fabric of the community and the Allentown neighborhood to the north, the Fruit Belt neighborhood to the west and the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus to the South and East. Connections to downtown and the other two SUNY Buffalo campuses are also available from the NFTA Station, which sits below

the Medical School. The building provides a pedestrian and bicycle passageway at grade making a connection from Allen Street to Washington Street and the Roswell Cancer Center to the South. The 1,200 new building occupant will add to the vitality of all of the surrounding neighborhoods while becoming a hub of activity for the medical school community.

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Sources of PUBLIC financing The project was commissioned by the Prospect Park Alliance, which receives public funding from New York State in the form of grants.

Submitted by Reddymade | New York, NY Photo Credits | Suchi Reddy, AIA and Evan Joseph

Public Art | Award of Merit The Connective Project, Brooklyn, NY

PROVIDING A PUBLIC PLATFORM TO VOICE TALENTS AND IDEAS

A Collaborative Public Engagement Art Project

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he Connective Project is a collaborative public engagement art project consisting of 7,000 sculpturally arranged pinwheels, many exhibiting artworks made by the public, onsite and through curated submissions, installed in the Rose Garden in Prospect Park. The project brief was to design and construct a temporary installation that the public could submit and exhibit artwork on, in an area of the park that needed visibility, to encourage public engagement with the park. Responding to the design of the garden, the concept amplifies the elliptical architectural forms of the defunct pools by expanding their shapes outwards into the garden in undulating layers of scaled and repetitive objects: pinwheels.

Precisely placed with geo-mapping technology, the 7000 pinwheels made of weather resistant, printable and biodegradable paper made of stone dust, surround the three concrete basins, turning them into amphitheaters.

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Art generated by the public and accepted through a curation process designed by the project’s organizers was printed on some of the pinwheels, and others were decorated at on site workshops, all of them displayed at the perimeters of the pools to facilitate gallery style viewing and engagement.

Each of the three concrete basins was turned into a seating area with its own characteristics. One featured seating made of discarded logs from the park cut at angles, another featured Adirondack chairs that had been donated to the park, and the third a custom designed bridge that facilitated differently abled visitors to access the interior of the installation.

What is the greater social value of the project?

Besides accomplishing the park’s goal of increasing public engagement and bringing visibility to an underused section of the park, the project generated immense interest and gave the

community a way to interact with public space in a personal way, giving them the platform to voice their talents and ideas as part of a public installation.

We chose the basic unit of the installation to be the pinwheel because of the wonder and delight it generates in people of all ages, and because it helped us make visible the invisible natural force of the breezes in the park.

Mounting them on mirror finish stainless steel stems, we strove to make the supports reflect the grass and disappear into the surroundings allowing people to feel a sense of magic.

How does the project contribute to the life of its surrounding community?

The project was hugely popular, with the messages on the pinwheels ranging from beautiful graphics to slogans giving voice to the feelings of the community served by the park. At the

conclusion of the project, the organizers of the event allowed the public to take away the pinwheels, and all of them were taken away into the surrounding communities to continue spreading wonder and delight in neighborhoods around the triborough area.

Although it began as a temporary installation it continues to live on and we continue to receive images of the pinwheels placed in their new homes.

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Sources of PUBLIC financing 100% public funding. The entire cost of the project was funded by OASAS bonds DASNY provided the Capital Project Management.

Submitted by Think! Architecture + Design | Brooklyn, NY Photo Credits | Alexander Severin

Renovation/Addition | Honor Award George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery, Odyssey House, New York, NY

CREATING A FACILITY THAT CONVEYS DIGNITY AND COMPASSION TO ITS RESIDENTS Creating a National Model for Substance Abuse Treatment

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he project consisted of the complete gut renovation of a highly dilapidated 100-year-old building that was originally built as a nurses residence and laboratory. The new Center was to include 200 beds for men, women and teens in a long-term residential treatment setting, and support spaces such as group rooms, classrooms, lounges, offices, meeting rooms, a central dining facility and a rooftop multi-purpose room large enough to accommodate all-resident meetings.

The project also houses a daycare center for residents with children, a fitness center, and a comprehensive healthcare center. The principal challenge on the project was the physical condition of the building which was dire, and the structural reality of internal loadbearing walls everywhere, which made the creation of large open spaces very difficult. Another challenge was building the project in three phases due to the building being partially occupied during

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construction. And significantly, the client desired a program that was larger than the building volume, creating a necessity to externalize architectural elements such as egress towers, a new entry pavilion and the multi-purpose room, beyond the existing building perimeter.

What is the greater social value of the submission?

In the words of Odyssey House’s Executive Director, the revitalization of what was once known as The Mabon Building, was to become a national model for what a therapeutic substance abuse treatment environment can be.

How does the project contribute to the life of its surrounding community?

To meet our client’s aspirations to create a national model for such therapeutic environments, we started from a humanist approach to the building, specifically in making a building

that conveyed dignity and compassion towards it residents who are struggling daily with their afflictions. So the interior was opened up to natural light, and such details as wood doors, wall mounted lighting, and interior finishes and colors lend a more residential feel than is normally seen in such facilities.

Creating a lofty, sun-lit meeting room on the roof provides a central meeting place for the residents on a daily basis.

Contributing further to the living experience at Odyssey House is the agency’s commitment to the visual arts.

Through their robust art therapy program, the building is filled with the art created by the residents. At the exterior, the design team restored the old building fabric while adding modernist elements such as stair towers, the entry pavilion and the multi-purpose room, clad in gray zinc, meant to anchor the old building into its site and to announce this new intervention. To welcome visitors, staff, and residents, the design team radically transformed the entry experience with landscaped ADA ramps and new steps, planters and terraces for the children’s playground, and the residents’ outdoor dining, further relating this building to its site and creating enjoyable outdoor spaces for the residents.

Q2 | JUNE 2018 | PAGE | 19

Sources of PUBLIC financing 100% public funding. The entire cost of the project was funded by OASAS bonds DASNY provided the Capital Project Management.

Submitted by Dattner Architects | New York, NY Photo Credits | © Vanni Archive

Renovation/Addition | Honor Award PS 50Q Addition, Queens, NY

INSPIRING ARCHITECTURAL RENEWAL AND LONGEVITY IN CENTURY OLD FACILITIES

Restoring a Civic Landmark’s Neighborhood Presence, Providing a Lesson in Civic Pride to its Students

I

n an era when the permanence of buildings is continually put into question, this project embodies the potential of architectural renewal and longevity. The vast New York City School system includes many buildings that are a century old. While battered by time, they stand as testimony to the aspirations and long-term vision of an earlier age. Their physical survival also presents programmatic challenges as educational practices have changed over the years. The design of PS 50Q demonstrates how an existing building can be transformed to remain culturally relevant and programmatically vital, and more generally, how architecture can transmit important lessons from one generation to another. As cities reverse their late 20th century decline and urban school populations grow, this is a practical and civic necessity.

The original five-story building had substandard program areas, including

PAGE | 20 | Q2 | JUNE 2018

the cafeteria and gymnasium, and lacked modern science labs, multi-purpose rooms, break-out instruction spaces, and flexibility required by current pedagogical practices. The building was also overcrowded and lacked modern technology, MEP infrastructure, and ADA accessibility. In addition to remedying the space problem and upgrading the physical infrastructure, the project intended to better serve the needs of its immigrant population, which includes a wide variety of origins.

These needs range from individual one-on-one sessions, to focused, small-group instruction, as well as educational programming and guidance programs for parents. The design creates a sense of openness, transparency, and permeability to the large community.

The school also functions as a civic landmark in an area of modest working-class homes and industrial workshops.

Its role as a neighborhood center was negatively impacted by the insertion of a temporary classroom structure into the school play yard in the 1970’s. The project permitted the building’s removal and the renovation of the playground.

Returning to public open space and restoring its neighborhood presence were important goals of the project, as well as an opportunity for a lesson in civic pride to its students.

The new structure coils tightly around the original T-shaped school, preserving the existing playground and an allée of 70-year-old London Plane trees, reimagined as the forecourt approach to the new central entrance. The renovation offered an opportunity to rethink the “front door” of the school and simplify circulation by creating one new, and transparent, common entrance for all students that leads them, according to their grade, to different parts of the building.

The compact, “high-rise” plan, while unusual by the standards of typical American Schools, continues to develop a New York City tradition attuned to growing densities.

What is the greater social value of the project?

The design emphasizes a visual and experiential connection to its context, reinforcing the school’s local civic importance and promoting a sense of place. At the seam between new and old, the original façade is revealed in the entrance lobby and corridors so that the trace of the historic building is not lost inside the new wing. Exterior masonry details, formerly visible from street level, can be observed and touched. Wherever possible, the corridors open to daylight and views, permitting students to look out at their neighborhood and catch glimpses of the original building from new and informative vantage points.

Furthermore, the gym is on the top floor, offering magnificent daylight and views of the neighborhood as well as reinforcing the school’s strong connection to the community.

The restoration and addition of a century-old structure into a revitalized educational space now follows the school’s mission: to prepare children to become lifelong learners and thoughtful, intelligent, and creative citizens of the community.

How does the project contribute to the life of its surrounding community?

Located in a predominantly emigrant and working class neighborhood of Jamaica, Queens, the building, which once served 500 students, now provides a positive learning environment for more than 900 students in grades pre-kindergarten through fifth. As one of the few public spaces in the neighborhood, the tree lined recreation yard serves the school and the community as a park after hours and on weekends.

The design team collaborated with school administrators and the City to develop a transparent, welcoming environment that encourages education for the whole community. The design responds to the school system’s mission of welcoming and assimilating first generation citizens and their parents, as most of the community comprises immigrant families from diverse locales. The project reconfigures the circulation and main entrance, by integrating the new with the old, to offer an improved educational experience and an important civic landmark for residents. By creating openness and visibility from the exterior and within, as well as creating spaces that serve dual purposes for student and community functions, the building becomes a neighborhood anchor and a vital resource for residents.

Sustainability is seamlessly woven into the school’s design, meeting NYC Green Schools Guidelines and is the equivalent of USGBC’s LEED Silver level.

The oversized and generously day-lit stairs and enclosed in glass, create an inviting environment that encourages active use. The interior materials promote comfort, are no- or low-VOC, durable, have recycled content, and are regionally sourced. The building design saves 20.7% in total energy costs and uses 30% less water. Joint community use of the energy efficient school’s facilities, including the library, gymnasium, auditorium, and the playground, strengthen the neighborhood connections and contribute to the community’s vibrancy.

Q2 | JUNE 2018 | PAGE | 21

Sources of PUBLIC financing 100% of the total cost comes from public funds.

DASNY provided financing for this project.

Submitted by Goshow Architects | New York, NY Photo Credits | Timothy Bell Photography

Renovation/Addition | Award of Merit Queensborough Community College Science Building Courtyard Enclosure, Queens, NY

DISCOVERING UNUSED SPACE TO CREATE AN INDOOR QUAD

Part of a Larger Campus Initiative to Provide Increased Incentive for Students to Attend the College.

T

he centrally-located Science Building was a square building in plan with an interior, seldom-used courtyard in the middle. The courtyard was enclosed to provide an indoor quad area where students and faculty can gather during the day, in between classes or at mealtimes. Previously, there had been no large-capacity space where students could gather indoors...now they can.

What is the greater social value of the project?

The atrium is now an inviting space where students can congregate without worry about weather or space to spread out. The campus has noticed a sharp decline in campus disturbances among the student body, an unexpected result, due to the centralized space being easily monitored and PAGE | 22 | Q2 | JUNE 2018

accessible. The atrium project is part of a Queensborough Community College capital improvement program, which also includes renovations to the neighboring performing arts building and other campus initiatives – providing increased incentive for students to attend the college.

How does the project contribute to the life of its surrounding community?

A stronger connection between the college, its’ students and the neighboring community is sustained with the creation of this space when used by locals to host special events.

Historically, there has not been a place that could accommodate more than 300 people within this northeast Queens neighborhood.

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advertorial

NYC New Safety Training Requirements Confusing & Regressive?

In 2017 Local Law 196 (hereafter LL 196) was signed into law as part of the Construction Safety Act. LL 196 was heralded by the press, political groups and many stakeholders as an advancement in worker safety and amongst the most progressive municipal worker safety training laws in the United States. The legislative intent of LL 196 was to reduce the thousands of NYC construction-related injuries and significant number of fatalities; according to the NYC Department of Buildings recordkeeping, there were 36 fatalities between 2015 and 2017. There are numerous scientific studies that support the conclusion that increased safety training contributes to a reduction in accidents and fatal workplace injuries.

Despite the well-intended spirit of LL 196, concerns and confusion have been ongoing as it relates to language in the law, proposed application of the law and which groups are exempt from receiving safety training under LL 196. These concerns are highlighted every time a worker that is currently exempt from LL 196 safety training dies on a construction site. Two weeks prior to the time of this writing, a security guard was crushed to death on a West 57th Street construction site. Recently, an architect fell 47 stories to his death on West 52nd Street while working on a rooftop terrace and last year an architect died on a construction site in Manhattan after falling while taking measurements. Last year, a significant number of fatalities that occurred on construction sites involved workers that would be exempt under the current LL 196 scheme: a surveyor, an architect, a special inspector, etc.

What is a Worker?

One of the most common questions being asked by the construction industry: what is a worker under LL 196? Unfortunately, LL 196 does not define the term “worker” in the text or plain language of the law (despite using the term “worker” over 45 times throughout the law). The lack of definition in the law has created a degree of uncertainty for many individuals because Federal OSHA and the New York State Department of Labor take a broad view of what constitutes a “worker” or “employee.” The Federal and NY State Departments of Labor tend to use the terms “employee” and “worker” interchangeably and as synonyms. Essentially, a worker is an employee that performs work for an employer.

In response to the lack of a defined term for “worker” in LL 196, the NYC Department of Buildings (hereafter DOB), has released a series of DOB notices that give “examples” of types of individuals that DOB considers workers for the purposes of LL 196 training and those that would be exempt because they are not workers. Below is an excerpt from an April 2018 DOB release that lists individuals required to receive either worker or supervisor LL 196 training (left column) and examples of those not required to receive any LL 196 safety training (right column).

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Many workers have commented that they do not fit into either list of examples and are confused as to whether they need LL 196 training. For example, consultants that do perform limited instillation of materials or delivery persons that perform very specific site instillation activities. Because of the potential for ambiguity and the cost-prohibitive nature of LL 196 violations (to the owner, permit holder and employer for a single worker), some stakeholders are having all their site workers take the training to reduce risk.

10-hour OSHA Requirement for “Major Buildings” Repealed | Prior to LL 196, section 3310.10.2 of the NYC Building Code

required that all workers on major building sites had completed a 10-hour OSHA safety training course within the last 5 calendar years. The 10-hour OSHA training requirement was broadly enforced by DOB and essentially all individuals on a major building site understood and were expected to have a current 10-hour OSHA card on their person if they were performing any work on the site; the standard and enforcement was relatively clear. The 10-hour OSHA safety training requirement included groups like surveyors, special inspectors, security guards, construction managers, consultants and essentially all workers that could be exposed to safety hazards while on a construction site.

The passage of LL 196 repealed the standalone 10-hour OSHA requirement for workers under 3310.10.2 and caused a DOB paradigm shift on what it means to be a worker.

Suddenly, under the LL 196 scheme, there are groups of workers on major buildings exempt from all minimum baseline safety training (including the 10-hour OSHA).

This effect of LL 196 can be viewed as regressive, as at-risk individuals that are regularly involved in fatal incidents on construction sites have gone from a minimum 10-hour OSHA baseline safety training on major buildings, to being exempt from all baseline safety training (including 10-hour OSHA) on all construction sites in the 5 boroughs. A common concern is that the groups currently exempted from LL 196 safety training are the groups most in need of training, often due to their lack of experience and/or familiarity with onsite construction hazards.

Potential for Confusion in an Enforcement & Legal Setting? | Without a clear definition of the term “worker” in LL 196, there is

potential for confusion, varied interpretation at the point of enforcement and during legal processes in the court system. If LL 196 training is not provided to an employee, it is foreseeable that a plaintiff’s lawyer will argue that the injured employee should have received LL 196 training and the failure to provide the required training resulted in the employee/worker’s construction site injuries. This situation is potentially messy for the permit holder, owner and employer as there is no clear definition or exemption in LL 196 for many workers. Relying on non-binding DOB fact sheets or press releases with expiration dates can create liability concerns in a court of law. Additionally, DOB inspectors could potentially be put in an uncomfortable position being forced to make judgment calls on whether training is required for a worker when no clear definition exists. A lack of clearly defined lines can lead to undesired inconsistency and subjectivity during enforcement, administrative and legal actions.

Should Workers Receive Safety Training Irrespective of LL 196? | It is important to remember that other NYC safety training requirements are still in effect irrespective of LL 196 (DOB scaffold training cards, FDNY certificates of fitness etc.). Moreover, Federal Law requires the employer shall instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his work environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury. 29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2). Notwithstanding LL 196’s shifting definition of “worker required to receive safety training”, all workers on construction sites should receive safety training that results in an ability for a worker to protect their safety, health and wellbeing.

Q2 | JUNE 2018 | PAGE | 25

Sources of financing The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Amtrak, and Federal grants and appropriations. The Moynihan Train Hall and Farley Building Redevelopment Phase 1 was 100% publicly funded.

Submitted by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP | New York, NY Photo Credits | Courtesy SOM © Magda Biernat

Renovation/Addition | Honor Award Moynihan Train Hall and Farley Building Redevelopment Phase 1 New West End Concourse, New York, NY

ADAPTING AN HISTORIC POST OFFICE INTO AN ORGANIZED TRANSIT HUB

Setting a New Bar for Passenger Experience, Accessibility, and Sustainability that Draws from the Design and Management of Best-in-Class Transportation Hubs in the U.S. and Internationally Empire State Development (ESD), as the lead public project sponsor, moved forward with a phased approach. Phase 1 expands and transforms Penn Station’s West End Concourse (the New West End Concourse) and provides passenger access to trains through the Farley Building, while Phase 2 will redevelop the entire Farley Building creating a new intercity and commuter train hall surrounded by a vibrant mixeduse development.

The New West End Concourse opened in June 2017, connecting nine of the eleven boarding platforms that serve the trains of Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), New Jersey Transit (NJT), and Amtrak, and includes over 20 new vertical circulation points.

S

ince the destruction of the original Penn Station over half a century ago, travelers using the Western Hemisphere’s busiest transit hub have suffered confusing passageways, dismal conditions, and uncomfortable overcrowding. The facility, which was designed to handle 200,000 visitors a day, now approaches 700,000 daily users.

To tackle these issues, a westward expansion of Penn Station into the James A. Farley Post Office Building was first championed by Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan in the early 1990s, but the project’s complexities proved a challenge to overcome.

PAGE | 26 | Q2 | JUNE 2018

The Farley Building, built in 1912 as the city’s main post office, was designed by McKim, Mead, and White as a companion to their masterpiece—the original Penn Station. After a century of exclusive Postal Service use, the Farley Building was adapted with new entrances for passenger access to Penn Station’s platforms from west of 8th Avenue for the first time. By adding stairways, escalators and elevators to the western third of the platforms, the New Concourse reduces peak hour congestion within the Penn Station Complex. These new connections provide full ADA accessibility and more efficient passenger circulation, Penn Station’s main concourses, two adjacent subway stations, and the surrounding neighborhood.

The design emphasizes clearer communication and wayfinding for passengers, including large, bold wayfinding signage and windows that create visual connections to the trains.

Seven-thousand square feet of media screens display dynamic content, including up-to-the-minute track information and critical updates during disruptions and emergencies.

What is the greater social value of the project?

Phase 1 accomplished the most technically challenging scope of work.

Threading the concourse between the platforms and the street required significant coordination between all stakeholders, resulting in a successful model of collaboration between the railroads and multiple stakeholder jurisdictions.

ESD’s project delivery partnership with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey kept construction on schedule and on budget. These accomplishments served as a proof of concept for major track level work at Penn Station, and in turn made the Phase 2 megaproject viable as a public-private partnership—with the private developer building and managing the Moynihan Train Hall with minimized risk to the public stakeholders.

A key component of the new concourse is increased user comfort and wayfinding.

The use of color and consistent graphic identity allows for efficient and speedy transition through the space. Media

screens with passenger information, arts displays, and New York State imagery enhance the regional transit hub.

The Concourse’s innovative digital lighting system, Skyscape, is an animated voluminous sky scene that drifts across the ceiling above commuters, providing a sense of daylight underground. The installation utilizes 258 edge-lit Spectra glass fins that fill the 300-foot long ceiling, bringing a calming atmosphere to the commuter experience.

Phase 1 also included upgrades to safety systems, utilities, and critical infrastructure for the complex. The Concourse reduces environmental impacts through efficient technologies such as LED lighting and screens and climate control technology that conditions air relative to ambient temperatures.

The New Concourse reflects Governor Andrew Cuomo’s commitment to building state-of-the-art public transportation infrastructure in New York. The Concourse sets a new bar for passenger experience, accessibility, and sustainability that draws from the design and management of best-in-class transportation hubs in the U.S. and internationally.

How does the project contribute to the life of its surrounding community?

The existing Penn Station is so problematic that its ailments even extend outside the facility walls. While the surrounding neighborhoods in all directions have flourished, Penn Station

is avoided by the adjacent communities.

With a combined footprint for the Penn Station and Farley Complexes of four full Midtown superblocks, the neighborhood impact is enormous.

The expansion into the Farley Building supports the adaptive re-use of this historic landmark building, preserving a magnificent structure as a major resource for residents and visitors. Plazas at the new 8th Avenue entries provide activated public space in a neighborhood that lacks it, connecting the building with the community by replacing the walled dry “moats”—a significant yet historically-sensitive transformation that was supported by leading preservationists.

The plazas feature rotating exhibition of sculptures by world-class artists (inaugurated by Joel Shapiro, a noted New York artist, whose sculptures have quickly become well-liked rendezvous points) and street furniture contributing a sense of place. The New Concourse displays multi-media arts installations, with public space programming planned to evolve over the coming years.

The project delivers on long-standing public priorities by catalyzing overall redevelopment of the entire station facility and surrounding area after decades of expectation.

Moynihan Phase 1—the New West End Concourse is a significant leap forward, addressing the needs of today and preparing for the challenges of tomorrow.

Q2 | JUNE 2018 | PAGE | 27

Sources of financing All funding for this project was provided by the New York State University Construction Fund.

Submitted by Kliment Halsband Architects | New York, NY Photo Credits | © John Bartelstone Photography LLC & Courtesy Kliment Halsband Architects

Renovation/Addition | Award of Merit SUNY College of Optometry Lobby and Center for Student Life & Learning, New York, New York

INCORPORATING STUDENT LIFE & ACTIVATING STREET LIFE

Reclaiming a Two-Story Recital Hall to Create a Much-Needed Student Commons and Redesigning the Public Lobby to Welcome Patients and Activate Street Life

T

he College of Optometry is a vertical campus on 18 floors of an office building on 42 Street in the center of Midtown Manhattan across from Bryant Park and the New York Public Library.

The project realizes three goals:

• Transformation of a dark and

dreary lobby into a welcoming space for the 70,000 annual visitors to the University Eye Center as well as students, faculty, and staff of the College.

• Construction of a much-needed student Center for Student Life & Learning.

• Creation of Space/42, a new public art gallery which functions as a satellite to the Neuberger Museum of Art at Purchase College.

PAGE | 28 | Q2 | JUNE 2018

What is the greater social value of the project?

The compact campus was missing a campus center, a place for the 1,000 students and faculty to gather for academic and social activities. The plans of the original building—constructed in 1912 for the piano manufacturer Aeolian—revealed the past existence of a two-story recital hall on the third floor.

We were able to reclaim this space as a Student Commons, which became the heart of the Center for Student Life and Learning. It is surrounded by lounges, fitness room, game room, and seminar rooms, amenities critical to the graduate student experience. Fitting this new space into the existing structural system and retaining existing mechanical systems was a cost-effective and sustainable reuse of existing fabric.

New finishes and furnishings meet the highest standards for sustainability.

Daylighting and park views for the major spaces are important sustainable and social goals, highlighting the natural environments and student engagement with the community.

The University Eye Center is one of the largest outpatient eye and vision care clinics in the nation. The redesign of the public lobby on 42 Street was the key to creating a welcoming and easy to navigate patient experience. The lobby relies on light colors, bright non-glare lighting, bold graphics, and clear lines of movement to define reception area, information and security desks, elevators, art gallery and a through-block pedestrian avenue.

How does the project contribute to the life of its surrounding community?

Public street frontage activates street life while the college, clinic, and art gallery provide ideal uses for a street facing Bryant Park. Redesign of the public lobby presents a welcoming and easy to navigate entrance to the facility. Open seven days a week, the public art gallery enhances the street experience. The Neuberger Museum of Art states that “artist projects created in and for Neuberger Museum of Art Space/42 are intended to spark community engagement and dialogue and be accessible to all, while expanding on the vision of founder Roy R. Neuberger, to support and encourage the work of living artists.�

Q2 | JUNE 2018 | PAGE | 29

Sources of PUBLIC financing Funding was secured through the New York City School Construction Authority with half of all funding provided by New York State.

Submitted by Nelligan White Architects PLLC | New York, NY Photo Credits | Nelligan White Architects | Sylvia Hardy

Renovation/Addition | Award of Merit PS 50 Manhattan Greenhouse New York, NY

CULTIVATING SPACE FOR SMALL SCALE FARMING

An Intervention that Serves as a Catalyst to Serve the Community and Improve Well-Being How does the project contribute to the life of its surrounding community?

B

efore the intervention, the space was an inaccessible roof setback. After the intervention the school’s food cultivation space at grade level was relocated to provide a direct connection to the school. The space seamlessly combines small scale farming with 21st century urban farming technology.

What is the greater social value of the project?

High Visibility to the neighborhood is achieved through the juxtaposition between the new sleek surfaces and the more rough existing masonry surfaces. Through this visibility the greenhouse seeks to engage students and outside citizens.

PAGE | 30 | Q2 | JUNE 2018

Like all schools in New York City, this building not only serves as a structure to educate the local youth but as a civic host.

The addition of this greenhouse further adds to the repertoire of community functions. It is the school’s intention to seek additional funding for a master gardener that will coordinate all activities with the school and community. The activities in the greenhouse seek to educate both students and neighbors in health and nutrition.

It is the hope that this intervention can serve as a catalyst to improve people’s well-being.

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Q2 | JUNE 2018 | PAGE | 31

PAGE | 32 | Q2 | JUNE 2018

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GOVERNMENT ADVOCACY UPDATE

Collaboration and Engagement: The 2018 NYS Legislative Session in Review Amidst the maelstrom of political division and uncertainty, AIANYS had one of its most successful Architects in Albany Advocacy Days in recent memory. Advocacy Day attendees completed seventy-five strategic legislative meetings, which accounted for thirty-five percent of the entire Legislative body. Twenty percent of the attendees were first-timers, comprised predominantly of young emerging professionals. Among all the other positive developments coming out of the 2018 Legislative Session, the spirit and engagement witnessed at Advocacy Day may be the most encouraging moral victory.

The major legislative victory of the year could have easily been a significant loss.

In the wake of the AIA beating back the elimination of the federal Historic Tax Credit (HTC), the viability of the New York State credit was called into question with a budget proposal to defer its use until 2021. Combined, the federal and state HTC programs have propelled New York State to the forefront in the rehabilitation of historic buildings and has been one of the most successful economic development tools for low-income communities around the state. Efforts to erode the program were not only met with resistance, they were met with counter-legislation offered by the Preservation League of New York State to extend the state credit by five-years and decouple it from changes made at the federal-level.

AIA New York State (AIANYS) joined the Preservation League in support of this legislation, which was shepherded by Senator David Valesky of Syracuse and Assemblymember Carrie Woerner of Saratoga Springs. AIANYS staff and members joined preservation activists on February 27th for the League’s Preservation Advocacy Day, which kicked-off a major push to include the legislation in the annual state budget.

As the pieces to the budget puzzle fell into place in late-March, it was clear the League and its allies had secured a major victory on behalf of communities that depend on the program to protect its historic treasures and attract private investment.

Post-budget activity focused primarily around liability and public procurement reform.

Once again, AIANYS joined forces with an allied organization, the American Council of Engineering Companies New York (ACEC NY), to advocate for a bill to prohibit certain indemnification and duty to defend clauses in public contracts. During this proactive campaign, AIANYS and the allied design professional organizations became immersed in fighting the resurrection of an onerous bill which lay dormant for two decades.

Contractors, sub-contractors and material providers were once again pushing a bill to establish a right to claim compensation for damages from public owners and their representatives for actions or omissions leading to delays.In the end, the indemnification bill supported by the design professions, and the damages for delay bill supported by the contractors, both passed the full Legislature. The post-session focus will turn to the governor’s office, with the ultimate objective aimed at securing the approval of the indemnification bill and a veto of the damages for delay bill.

While there is still much to accomplish this year, the 2018 Legislative Session marked a year of collaboration, success, and hope for the future.

Q2 | JUNE 2018 | PAGE | 33

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KNOWLEDGE UPDATE

Webinars, Programs & Symposiums

Webinars

AIA New York State is two installments into its 2018 Live Webinar Series. The first took place in January and featured David Kosakoff, Partner at Sinnreich Kosakoff & Messina LLP, presenting to over 50 attendees live from the Viking Studios at Hudson Valley Community College about how contract documents can help architects manage risk.

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PUBLIC ADVOCACY UPDATE

Community Efforts & Quarterly Themes

Scajaquada Expressway | The Scajaquada

Expressway in Buffalo, NY, was constructed in the early 1960’s and is now at the end of its functional life. The redesign and rebuilding of the roadway offers the opportunity to make it less dangerous and more compatible with the natural, historic, and cultural fabric of the parks, parkways, neighborhoods, schools, colleges, and museums it serves and impacts.

The AIANYS Public Advocacy Committee is working with the AIA Buffalo/WNY Chapter to understand the resources needed in order to provide assistance in support of this initiative.

Architecture New York State | Quarterly Publication | An editorial calendar,

including an issue date and themes was established for the next four issues.

2018 | Q2 | Publication Date | June 29, 2018 Public Architecture (current issue) The second came amidst the horrible recent school shootings and featured Tom Czyz (above left) and Tino Amodei (above right), the CEO and COO of Armoured One, describing the various roles that security glass and films can play in designing safer schools.

2018 | Q3 | Publication Date | September 28, 2018 Citizen Architect (see call for articles on page 36) 2018 | Q4 | Publication Date | January 4, 2019 Meet the Officers 2019 | Q1 | Publication Date | March 29, 2019 Women in Architecture

We are currently scheduling webinars for the rest of the year and have an open Call for Proposals.

A task force as a sub-committee twill be formed to expand the editorial calendar through 2018 and beyond.

Safety Assessment Program

VFW Posts | Two years ago, when he was a member of the

Continuing off of the success of a series of Safety Assessment Program trainings held at the Center for Architecture last Fall, we wanted members in the rest of the state to have the opportunity to become certified building evaluators, available to be deployed by the the New York State CEDAR Program in times of disaster. In May, King + King Architects LLP in Syracuse held a Safety Assessment Program, and we are planning on hosting another in Albany in September.

Small Firms Symposium

Since AIA National’s Conference on Architecture took place in New York City this year, we at AIA New York State thought we’d take a slightly different, but complementary, approach. Rather than hold our annual conference, we are, instead, focusing on a more specialized educational and networking experience this fall focusing on the business aspects of working in or managing a small firm. The pair of Small Firms Symposiums will be held in Rochester on November 13 and Long Island on November 15.

PAGE | 34 | Q2 | JUNE 2018

New York State Assembly, Michael Kearns collaborated with the AIA Buffalo/WNY Chapter to survey several veteran posts in the Buffalo, NY area. The objective was to determine what capital improvements were most needed and how much they would cost.

Local Architects provided pro-bono services for existing conditions assessments to various VFW Posts in that area. It was determined through the assessments that many facilities needed work including ADA upgrades. A 501(c)3 is being established and the Committee is working with Mickey Kearns, Erie County Clerk to understand next steps.

Jamaica EL-Space Design Initiative |

In May, the AIA Queens Chapter presented last week the Jamaica EL-Space Design Initiative Case Study, a vision and placemaking of a public space for Downtown Jamaica, to the Jamaica NOW Leadership Council.

The case study was well received by members of the Council and the Public Advocacy Committee will support the promotion of this effort.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ON...

We are excited about the introduction of a new column in our digital publication Architecture New York State that highlights our members across the state.

One article per quarter will be chosen for publication (see editorial calendar to the left). If your article is chosen, you will receive a $50.00 gift card to the AIA Bookstore.

In addition, all published articles chosen will be entered into a drawing to win a complimentary registration to the AIA Tri-State Conference in October 2019.

If you are interested, please submit a 500-word article answering some of the questions listed below.

• •

• • • • • •

• • • • • • •

Tell us how you first got interested in architecture?

Tell us about someone who has influenced your decision to become an architect or someone in the profession you admire and why?

What areas of the architecture profession or the built environment would you like to impact the most?

If you could change one thing about architecture, what would it be and why?

What would you tell someone who is thinking about choosing a career in architecture?

What do you think will change about the profession of architecture over the next five years?

Why did you join the AIA? Tell me about some of the people you’ve met as a member of AIA and what intrigued you about that person?

As an AIA member, what sorts of trends do you see?

If you weren’t practicing architecture, what would you be doing instead, or what would your life be like?

What do you wish other people know about you?

What might someone be surprised to know about you?

How would (someone) describe you?

What do you do when you aren’t working or volunteering?

What else has shaped you as an individual?

Submit your article to Robin Styles-Lopez, Director of Communications at rstyles-lopez@aianys.org.

Q2 | JUNE 2018 | PAGE | 35

TELL US YOUR STORY...

Are you or a colleague an AIA New York State member or Associate member that is an elected official or serves on a public board?

Are you interested in telling us how your professional training as an architect has positively impacted that role for our “Citizen Architect� themed September 28, 2018 issue of Architect New York State?

If so, contact Robin Styles-Lopez, Director of Communications at AIA New York State

by July 31 to share your ideas about an article. rstyles-lopez@aianys.org or 518.449.3334

PAGE | 36 | Q2 | JUNE 2018

Q2 | JUNE ’18 A rchitecture new york state i s a q u a r t e r l y p u b l i c a t i o n d e v e l o p e d b y A I A N e w Yo r k S t a t e , 5 0 S t a t e S t r e e t , A l b a n y, N Y 1 2 2 0 7 . Fo r q u e s t i o n s , c o m m e n t s a n d e d i t o r i a l c o n t e n t i d e a s , c o n t a c t R o b i n S t y l e s - L o p e z , D i r e c t o r o f C o m m u n i c a t i o n s a t r s t y l e s - l o p e z @ a i a n y s . o r g o r 5 1 8 . 4 4 9. 3 3 3 4 .