● SKANSKA – WALSH
LaGuardia work earns sustainability nod
Skanska, lead partner in the Skanska-Walsh construction joint venture for the LaGuardia Airport Terminal B Redevelopment, announced that the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) has awarded the terminal redevelopment project the Envision Platinum Certification.
Envision recognizes projects that lead the industry in their approach to sustainable and resilient infrastructure development.
The Terminal B redevelopment – of which the design and construction is led by the Skanska-Walsh Joint Venture – is the first project to achieve recognition from ISI at any level under its newly updated Envision v3 framework.
“This recognition reflects the passion and commitment of the Port Authority and the entire team to deliver an instant landmark and an intelligent investment,” said Beth Heider, Skanska USA Chief Sustainability Officer.
“As both a construction and long-term development partner, Skanska is proud of Envision’s verification that this project is bringing measurable, long-term benefit to those frequent Terminal B – and to the planet at large.”
The LaGuardia Terminal B project – valued at $5.1 billion — is the largest public-private partnership in US aviation history.
The redevelopment includes a new 35-gate terminal, a Central Hall, a parking garage, related roadways and supporting infrastructure.
● HOLT CONSTRUCTION
Holt completes rehab facility
Holt Construction announced the completion of the Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute (ARI) for Atlantic Health System and Kindred Healthcare, LLC.
The new, $24 million, state-of-the-art, two-story inpatient rehabilitation hospital located in Madison, New Jersey is the first standalone hospital to be built from the ground up by Atlantic Health System.
Led by Healthcare Project Executive Wayne Lawrence, Holt delivered comprehensive construction management services on the modern, 46,000 s/f inpatient rehabilitation care facility.
The new ARI facility includes numerous unique innovations and technologies intended to offer patients the best possible care, with a focus on helping patients prepare for the end of their hospital stay and transition to their regular life.
These include a therapeutic courtyard that features different surfaces, such as gravel, paver stones, a putting green, a ramp and stairs and a simulated curb with a wheelchair cutout to practice real-world walking.
Additionally, ARI features a unique Activities of Daily Living Suite, which allows patients to spend the night in a stimulated home environment complete with a full kitchen, bathroom with a standing shower and bathtub and a washer and dryer, in order to practice their return to daily life and prepare for a return to home activities, when ready.
ARI will also include a spacious and renovated gym with ceiling lifts and brand new equipment, as well as bionic, assisted movement systems that will help patients regain movement.
The hospital was also designed to accommodate for visiting families, with several meeting spaces, and amenities such as a putting green and basketball court, which both patients and their visitors can enjoy.
● CONNOLLY + PARTNERS
Senior housing renovated
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the completion of renovations at Project HOPE, a 100-apartment senior housing development in the Bronx.
The 25-year-old development underwent a $34 million rehabilitation, preserving the affordability for an additional 40 years.
The apartments in the Baychester building are set aside for low-income households with at least one member aged 62 or older.
Project HOPE, located at 2050 Bartow Avenue, was originally constructed in 1992 as affordable housing for elderly and disabled households under the federal Section 202 program.
The state’s investment was used to finance the acquisition and renovation of the seven-story building to keep it affordable and in good condition over the long term.
The apartments will continue to be covered by a project-based Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments contract with the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to ensure that the rents remain affordable for current and future tenants.
All units are set aside for households with at least one member aged 62 or older or disabled, with incomes at or below 60 percent of the Area Medium Income.
The developers are Connolly and Partners, B’nai B’rith Senior Housing and First Hartford Realty Corporation.
Funding provided by HCR to acquire and upgrade Project HOPE included $12 million in tax-exempt bonds, $10.5 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credit equity and $4.3 million in subsidy and additional resources.
● SG BLOCKS
Nautical bar built from boating materials
SG Blocks, a fabricator of container-based structures, announced that The Terrace, the award-winning cocktail bar BlackTail’s expansion, was delivered to Pier A in Battery Park.
In partnership with Elle Woodworking, SG Blocks constructed the seasonal bar using its signature GreenSteel product, the structural core and shell of an SG Blocks structure.
The outside bar was built using traditional boat-building materials and methods .
“It’s exceptionally rewarding for SG Blocks to be able to bring this innovative modern bar to New Yorkers and tourists strolling around Battery Park this summer,” said Paul Galvin, Chairman and CEO of SG Blocks.
“We hope to replicate this model in other markets for both temporary facilities like The Terrace and more permanent structures.”
SG Blocks has already collaborated with numerous companies in the food and beverage space. Clients have included Taco Bell and Starbucks, as well as Bareburger.
SG Blocks utilizes code-engineered cargo shipping containers to construct and provide safe, durable and environmentally-friendly structures.
● RACANELLI CONSTRUCTION
New hotel finished
Racanelli Construction Company served as the Construction Manager on a Hilton Homewood Suites Hotel in Ronkonkoma, New York.
Serving on behalf of Excel Holdings 6, Racanelli constructed a 102,225 s/f, four-floor building with 124 guest rooms.
The project features a modern design using a new Dryvit product; NewBrick. This product gives builders a more cost- and energy-efficient alternative for masonry, creating a design which incorporates a brick-like exterior.
Other key features include an outdoor putting green, indoor pool, dual-sided fireplace, and a market area.
In addition to NewBrick, other materials used in the project were a wood panelized system with wood floor and roof trusses.
As the Construction Manager, one challenge Racanelli Construction had to address was utilizing the existing foundation and sanitary system to build the building.
Both had to be upgraded and repaired and the building was redesigned to fit on the existing foundation.
