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April 25, 2017
DDC Projects Receive Two of Three Excelsior Honor Awards for New Construction Statewide
Contact:
Ian Michaels
718-391-1589
Long Island City, NY – Commissioner Feniosky Peña-Mora of the New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) announced today that two of the agency’s recent public buildings projects have been selected by the New York State chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIANYS) to receive an Excelsior Honor Award for Public Architecture, given by the group to honor “excellence in practice and advocacy of design” in New York State’s public architecture.
The two DDC projects selected are the Ocean Breeze Athletic Facility in Staten Island and Public Safety Answering Center II in the Bronx. Together they represent two of the three Excelsior Honor Awards granted by AIANYS this year for new construction statewide. The awards will be presented at a ceremony to be held in Albany on May 16.
“It’s notable that both projects honored by the American Institute of Architects are sustainable and environmentally friendly, helping to meet the City’s long-term OneNYC goals,” said Commissioner Peña-Mora. “By designing to LEED standards determined by the US Green Building Council, these buildings use resources more efficiently, conserve water and energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. DDC will continue to push the boundaries to give New Yorkers superior public architecture that meets the needs of future generations.”
Ocean Breeze Athletic Center had previously received an Architizer A+ Award in the category of Sports & Recreation: Stadium/Arena. Public Safety Answering Center II has received an award from Government Technology for best IT collaboration among organization; from the American Institute of Architects for outstanding architectural design; an Award of Merit from Engineering News Record; and a Diamond Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies New York.
The Ocean Breeze Athletic Center in Staten Island hosts a range of indoor track and field events, from elite level meets to large scale amateur events. Facilities include a 200m, IAAF certified track with eight lanes, six of which can be hydraulically banked for elite level competitions. Additional field space is designated for two long jump pits, a pole vault lane, a high jump, and two shot-put throwing areas as well as seating for 2,500 spectators.
The LEED Silver building incorporated several green building strategies during construction. To minimize cost and waste, a pre-engineered steel structure and off-the-shelf insulated metal cladding are incorporated in the design of the new facility. Natural ventilation is provided through the use of large-scale operable hangar doors and roof-mounted exhaust fans. The project also includes water-efficient landscaping around the perimeter of the building. The facility was designed by Sage and Coombe Architects, MKW and Associates and was constructed by Nasdi, LLC., Fitzpatrick and Associates and C &L Contracting Corporation.
The $691 million, 500,000-square-foot Public Safety Answering Center II (PSAC2) is a highly secure facility designed to be a second emergency communications 911 call intake and dispatch center for the City, functioning as a parallel operation to the existing PSAC I in downtown Brooklyn and augmenting and providing redundancy to the current emergency 911 response service.
The facility provides redundancy to current 911 services, strengthening the City’s ability to maintain communication in the event of a natural disaster or large-scale emergency. When fully staffed it can accommodate 400 911 operators and 150 administrative personnel. Over 1,600 miles of copper and fiber cables were installed to handle data.
The building is also designed to LEED Gold standards. Sustainable features include drought-resistant landscaping, which uses less potable water for the site irrigation; low-flow fixtures and stormwater collection for toilet use, which conserves potable water throughout the building; and low-emitting materials which help maintain healthy interior air quality. An “Active Modular Phytoremediation System” (AMPS) green feature wall in the building lobby uses plant material to filter and clean the air, and provide a more relaxing environment for the staff.
About the NYC Department of Design and Construction
The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor de Blasio’s lenses of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, new or upgraded roadways, sewers, water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $15 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative, and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to city projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.