10 Hudson Yards Has Achieved LEED-Platinum Certification

As the Hudson Yards megaproject continues to grow, in both size and height, one

of the buildings, 10 Hudson Yards, has made history as it receives the United

States Green Building Certification’s highest rating for sustainable buildings

— LEED Platinum Certification.

The Building:

10 Hudson Yards contains a total of 1.8 million square feet throughout 52 stories,

offering high-rise premiere office space and ground-level retail space on the West

Side. It opened in May 2016 and is now fully occupied with around 6,000

employees, including those at major brands such as L’Oreal USA and SAP.

The Features:

Earning any LEED certification is not easy and there are a number of criteria a

building has to meet, with Platinum certification requiring the most features.

10 Hudson Yards boasts Platinum- level qualities such as:

• 1.2 MW of gas-fired microturbines that generates power and treats waters in a way that is twice as efficient as other traditional systems.
• A storm water retention that uses rainwater to irrigate the building’s terrace landscapes.
• A 100% raised flooring that allows for improve temperature control and cleaner air.
• Acting as the Operation and Energy Control Center that coordinates building performance.

Hudson Yards has already earned many achievements in the development and

construction, so having this building win a LEED-Platinum certification shows how

great building can be when it comes to sustainability.

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area. With over 50 years of experience, we are known for both our high standards

and specialized services. We have supported the work of some of the largest and

most prestigious developers, retailers and more. Call us today at 212.867.6720 or

visit our website for more information.

West Harlem Tops List of City Neighborhoods to Watch

Real estate listings firm, StreetEasy, has been analyzing the moving trends of those

city-dwellers who are moving from Manhattan to the outer boroughs to get an idea

for what neighborhoods are most attractive and why. According to NY Curbed, this year, a
surprising neighborhood has topped the lists of areas to watch — West Harlem.

What Goes into Deciding Neighborhoods to Watch

StreetEasy uses four factors to determine the rankings for their list. These include

areas that have the greatest:

• Change in median rent
• Change in median sales
• Number of listing views
• Amount of new construction undertaken over a year

Why West Harlem Tops the List

Located between Morningside Heights and Harlem Heights, West Harlem is in

the process of welcoming parts of Columbia University’s new Manhattanville campus, and, because of this, new residential as well as commercial buildings are being built throughout the area. In terms of real estate prices, the median home sales prices has gone up by 124% and the median rent prices have increased by 6% since last year. West Harlem also offers easy access to subway lines, making commuting easier for

residents.

What Option Areas Made the List.

The top 10 cities on the list include:

1. West Harlem (Manhattan)
2. Fort Greene (Brooklyn)
3. Flushing (Queens)
4. Elmhurst (Queens)
5. East New York (Brooklyn)
6. Norwood (Bronx)
7. Prospect park South (Brooklyn)
8. Chinatown (Manhattan)
9. Brighton Beach (Brooklyn)
10. Woodside (Queens)

AMAA is your source for structural inspections, mechanical inspections, civil

inspections, and architectural inspections in New York and the entire metropolitan

area. With over 50 years of experience, we are known for both our high standards

and specialized services. We have supported the work of some of the largest and most prestigious developers, retailers and more. Call us today at 212.867.6720 or visit our website for more information.

Coney Island is Getting a Development with 1,000 Apartments

As New York City continues to plan more and more building projects for its

waterfront neighborhoods, it’s no surprise that Coney Island is now getting a new

development at 1709 Surf Avenue.

PC: Prusik Group

The Developers

Prusik Group has partnered with Taconic Investment Partners to create to create this

development. The two groups are also working together the Essex Crossing

megaproject on the Lower East Side.

The Building

This project will encompassed three blocks in total and will create 1,000 new

apartments, 80,000 square of office space, and 150,000 of retail space. Even

though the large scale of the project will make the area more dense, it’s proximity to the D, F, N, and Q trains at Stillwell Avenue Station give residents easy access to Manhattan and Brooklyn.

The Design

The design will be more traditional than some current building spaces popping up

around the city, with the current plans featuring a red-brick facade and boxy silhouettes. This ends up giving the project a “breath of fresh air” feel among the many glass-facade buildings

around it.

The project is intended to be completed some time in 2020. For more NYC building

news, follow AMAA on Facebook and Twitter!

AMAA is your source for structural inspections, mechanical inspections, civil

inspections, and architectural inspections in New York and the entire metropolitan

area. With over 50 years of experience, we are known for both our high standards

and specialized services. We have supported the work of some of the largest and

most prestigious developers, retailers and more. Call us today at 212.867.6720 or

visit our website for more information.

Important Ways New York City’s Landscape Will Change in 2018

Now that we’re well into the start of the new year, we’ve had plenty of time to

reminisce on all the construction projects 2017 brought New York City. Now, it’s

time to get excited For all the ways NYC is going to change in 2018. From

construction projects to conservation efforts, the city is in for a great treat these

next 12 months.

Megaprojects

The new year will bring a number of new megaprojects to the city including:

- Essex Crossing
- The first phase of the Market Line
- The Rollins
- Waterline Square
- The Domino Sugar Refinery
- Hudson Yards

Transit

It’s no secret that NYC is in need of transportation improvement, so we’re happy to

hear that the MTA has announced an $836 million emergency action plans to

address some of the issues with the subway system. These plans include:

- Fixing 1,300 signals

- Cleaning the tracks

- Increasing the number of cars on trains (when it’s possible)

There are also plans to improve the bike infrastructure near the Williamsburg

Bridge and create protected bike lanes on 13th Street in a response to the L train

shutting down.

Rezonings

Mayor DeBlasio is continuing to rezone part of New York City throughout the year.

Several areas included in the plans are:

- Gowanus — plans are set to be released early this year.

- Jerome Avenue in the Bronx — set to create about 4,000 new apartments, 1,500

of which will be affordable.

- Inwood, Queens — aimed at creating new, ideally affordable, apartments.

Skyline

Several supertall buildings are continuing to be built or nearing completion this year.

2018 will bring:

- One Vanderbilt — at 1,401 feet — will likely open in 2020.
- 3 World Trade Center — at 1,079 feet — will open this year.
- Central Park Tower — at 1,550 feet — is set to open next year.

For more NYC building news, follow AMAA on Facebook and Twitter!

AMAA is your source for structural inspections, mechanical inspections, civil

inspections, and architectural inspections in New York and the entire metropolitan area. With over 50 years of experience, we are known for both our high standards and specialized services. We have supported the work of some of the largest and most prestigious developers, Retailers and more. Call us today at 212.867.6720 or visit

our website for more information.

CLT Materials Could Bring in a New Wave of Construction

The construction industry is starting to see a new wave of change in the form of CLT building materials. As the name would suggest, cross-laminated timber is several layers of timber fixed at right angles to each other and glued together. By using CLT, some industry professionals believe we could start seeing more and more construction projects move from being traditionally built to being built in a modular fashion.

The Pros of Using CLT Materials and Modular Construction

• Building Accuracy: Since computer-based programs are very accurate, projects can cut down on the number of inaccuracies that can occur during building. Plus, making the pieces in a factory lets you put complete systems, such as plumbing and electrical, in place in advance.
• Building Time: Using CLT and modular construction can trim down the time it takes to complete a building project. That extra time can be translated into rent, making for a better return on investment.
• Reduced Long-Term Cost: CLT can be used to manufacture buildings that are tolerant to certain conditions, making them better quality and easier and cheaper to maintain.

The Cons of Using CLT Materials and Modular Construction

• Limited Labor Force: In many areas of the country, labor forces are generally migrant and don’t have to be specifically trained. In order to work with CLT and modular construction technology, workers would need specific training, and not many workers have those skills readily available.
• Differences in Building Codes: The changing building codes that vary from city to city can sometimes defeat the purpose of using standardized modular construction. Different areas have different requirements for homes, meaning one CLT model won’t fit every city.

For more NYC building news, follow AMAA on Facebook and Twitter!

AMAA is your source for structural inspections, mechanical inspections, civil inspections, and architectural inspections in New York and the entire metropolitan area. With over 50 years of experience, we are known for both our high standards and specialized services. We have supported the work of some of the largest and most prestigious developers, retailers and more. Call us today at 212.867.6720 or visit our website for more information.

Upper West Side to Get 21-story Condo Near Trader Joe's

A new year definitely means one thing in New York City — new construction projects. One of the latest projects to be reported is a new 21 story residential building that will be located at 214 W. 72nd Street. While no demolition plans have been filed yet, this building will most likely replace some of the mid rise buildings currently sitting on the street between Broadway and West End Ave.

The Plan

The building is set to have only 20 apartments, one per floor, with the commercial space on the ground floor. Each apartment will average around 1,500 square feet, making many think that the building will be a condo building.

The Perks

Residents in the building will have access to bicycle storage as well as recreation spaces, but those plans have yet to be revealed. The building also offers residence convenience in terms of travel and grocery shopping, as it is located next to the 1, 2, and 3 subway lines and the neighborhood’s Trader Joe’s.

Speculation has put the project as beginning in spring and taking two years to finish.

For more NYC building news, follow AMAA on Facebook and Twitter!

AMAA is your source for structural inspections, mechanical inspections, civil inspections, and architectural inspections in New York and the entire metropolitan area. With over 50 years of experience, we are known for both our high standards and specialized services. We have supported the work of some of the largest and most prestigious developers, retailers and more. Call us today at 212.867.6720 or visit our website for more information.

Inside the Construction of the Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island

For decades, the Statue of Liberty has been the first thing people see when they arrive in New York Harbor. Since security measures have been tighter since 9/11, only a small portion of the current museum on the island has been open to visitors. However, in 2019, a new Statue of Liberty Museum will open and allow free access to anyone who purchases a ferry ticket to Liberty Island and Ellis Island.

Who Is Involved:

• Phelps Construction Group
• Stephen A. Briganti
• Diane von Furstenberg, CEO of the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Corporation
• Edwin Schlossberg of ESI Design, campaign chairperson for the museum
• FXFOWLE Architects

The Design:

FXFOWLE Architects is behind the main design of the building. Their designs purposely showcase the construction materials which are the same ones used in the construction of the Statue itself and Fort Wood — Stony Creek Granite, bronze, and plaster. The building will also have a green roof using the natural vegetation on the island as well as a “Liberty Mural” featuring the original, hand-forged iron bars made by Gustav Eiffel.

The Features:

ESI Design is responsible for the experimental design which includes:

• An immersive walk-through theatre which tells the story of the creation of the Statue of Liberty
• An “Engagement Gallery” to help guests explore the symbolism of the Statue
• A recreation of Bartholdi and Eiffel’s studio
• Displays of models of the crown and a broken shackle and tablet.
• An “Inspirational Gallery” to give guests a chance to reflect on what liberty and the Statue mean to them as individuals.

For more NYC building news, follow AMAA on Facebook and Twitter!

AMAA is your source for structural inspections, mechanical inspections, civil inspections, and architectural inspections in New York and the entire metropolitan area. With over 50 years of experience, we are known for both our high standards and specialized services. We have supported the work of some of the largest and most prestigious developers, retailers and more. Call us today at 212.867.6720 or visit our website for more information.