By Juan Lopez 0 Comments

Central Park Police Precinct Soil Investigation

Remediation of an existing landmark police precinct building in Central Park. Three leaking underground storage tanks (USTs) were located on the property, adjacent to the existing building, which resulted in petroleum contamination of soils under and adjacent to the building.

A remedial investigation was performed in the building footprint to delineate petroleum impacted soils using shallow test pits, organic vapor screening and soil/groundwater sampling  accordance with NYSDEC DER-10.  A remedial investigation report was prepared including sampling methodology, test pit logs, data analysis, conclusions and remedial alternatives.  An indoor air assessment was conducted with an underslab vapor collection system and SVE remediation system designed and installed.

Tectonic worked with NYCDDC to get NYSDEC approval during these conditions discovered during construction to avoid project delays, remove several feet of petroleum-impacted soils, and address potential vapor intrusion to impacts future occupants.

The project received the following awards: 2013 ACEC Gold Award; 2012 Lucy Moses Award for outstanding preservation efforts; and 2010 ACEC Platinum Award to Tectonic for innovative design of a below grade SVE remedial system minimizing visual effect.

By TECTONIC 0 Comments

Young Life’s Lake Champion

Young Life’s Lake Champion is a 370-acre year-round retreat center and camp located in the Catskill foothills and situated around a 50-acre lake. The summer population can exceed 500 guests and staff.

Tectonic has supported the location’s continued growth over many years by providing civil site planning and geotechnical engineering, survey (supporting both design and construction layout), construction inspection and materials testing, and environmental services for projects including:

  • New 14,000 sf. dining hall
  • Two new 4,700 sf. dormitories (Mongaup & Catskill)
  • Phase I fire suppression 60,000-gallon water storage tank
  • Phase II water system improvements
  • New pool complex (bath house building, pool spa deck, craft shack, and pump house structures)
  • Rope swing
  • Ropes course

Tectonic provided topographic surveys used as the basis for the site plans, utility designs, erosion control planning, stormwater management, circulation improvements, and landscaping. Final as-builts were also prepared upon completion of construction. Geotechnical investigations were performed to evaluate the conditions of the soil and included test borings, boring inspections, laboratory testing, geotechnical analyses and geotechnical reports providing recommendations for the design and construction of proposed foundations and structures. Permits included NYSDOH, NYSDEC (stream protection and SPDES), and Army Corps (JD and Nationwide). Additionally, Tectonic performed a freshwater wetlands/watercourse delineation and summarized the results in a report including data review, soils, vegetation, and hydrology observed at the site. Inspection and material testing services included foundations (cast-in-place concrete, pre-pour inspections, and reinforcement steel placement) and soils (backfill and compaction).

Potable water improvements leveraged both short-term fire suppression needs and capital expenditures to benefit the Center’s future growth, improve water quality, and increase system reliability.

By TECTONIC 0 Comments

Hudson River Museum

Founded in 1919, the Hudson River Museum is dedicated to broadening cultural horizons with its contemporary galleries, an 1876 Victorian home on the National Register of Historic Places, a Planetarium, and a permanent environmental learning gallery. The Amphitheater, a concrete open-air performance space located in Trevor Park adjacent to the Museum, overlooks the river and the Palisades while seating over 400 people.

Over two contact periods, Tectonic provided survey, geotechnical, and site/civil services for the design and construction of: an outdoor amphitheater with a backstage facility (green roof,  bathrooms, lobby, and “green” room) and an expansion of the west wing to improve museum function.  Subsurface investigations determined extent of fill and foundation requirements while site/civil designs addressed grading/drainage/erosion control/utility diversions on steep slopes.

Using the guiding principles of the museum master plan, the stormwater management facility required by City ordinance for the Amphitheater project was designed to accommodate the future west wing expansion, thus saving capital construction dollars.

Two state grants totaling $630,000 (December 2014) helped expand exhibition space, create a  waterfront entrance to the museum, and provide fine arts storage and gallery space that meets current security and climate control standards.

By TECTONIC 0 Comments

NYS Preparedness Training Center

The NYS Preparedness Training Center (SPTC), located in Central NY at the former Oneida County Airport, is a multidiscipline complex operated by the NYS Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services (DHSES). The facility occupies 723 fenced acres of the former Airport and is undergoing $42 million in capital projects geared toward making it a national model for training first responders.

Tectonic was retained by BBS Architects under contract to NYS Office of General Services (OGS) to develop designs (site/civil engineering, stormwater management), secure permits (SPDES, NYSOPRHP filings, environmental compliance), and support the procurement & construction phases for this Training Complex for the addition of a 100-yard range, shoot house/kneewall structure, office/classroom facilities, range support/equipment buildings with bullet trap/recovery, and shade/instructional pavilions.

Soil testing/groundwater investigation data and best practices were utilized to optimize stormwater management facility location, confirm borrow pit viability for an earthen backstop, and manage lead associated with ammunition.

By TECTONIC 0 Comments

GSA Building Systems Project (IRS)

This American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) project, part of GSA’s National Deep Energy Retrofit Program, involved an extensive field survey of the 546,000 square foot IRS facility and replacement of the entire roofing system to increase overall building envelope efficiency and implement the approved Energy Conservation Measures (ECM).

Tectonic replaced facility chillers and boilers for optimum energy efficiency of the complex, demolished five of the six existing chillers and all existing central plant piping. New chiller system controls were added to accommodate optimized chiller operations which allowed N+1 redundancy. Tectonic also replaced the existing boiler plant with new high efficiency hot water boilers that were dual fuel condensing boilers with a modular arrangement to provide N+1 standby capacity.

Tectonic had to receive clearance from Homeland Security and observe extensive measures while on site.

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Elmira Federal Building

Rehabilitation of the Federal Building for the City of Elmira, NY, a 59,492 square foot building comprised on steel and masonry construction and clad with granite and limestone. The building, originally built in 1902 to serve as a U.S. Post Office and Court House, is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Tectonic provided professional architectural and engineering services as well as facility design related to the rehabilitation. Funded with a Restore NY grant, services included replacing the roof, asbestos abatement, lead paint remediation, window restoration, repointing stonework, railing upgrades with historic considerations to make the building compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, upgrading the fire alarm system, and some mechanical work.

In an effort to keep construction costs related to the exterior masonry restoration to a minimum, construction supervision was provided to target areas of necessary repair so available grant money could be utilized on remainder building upgrades.