PS 174Q, “William Sidney Mount”, is located in the Rego Park section of Queens. Constructed in 1948, this two-story Georgian style, brick and steel structure accommodates 658 students grades Kindergarten through 5. The adjacent property is ‘The Painter’s Playground’, a NYC Parks Department property. Through an existing agreement between NYC Parks Department and the NYC Department of Education, PS 174Q has exclusive use of ‘The Painter’s Playground’ during school hours. Under a Joint Operating Partnership (JOP) agreement between NYC SCA and the NYC Parks Department, a 20,000 sf area of ‘The Painter’s Playground’ was allocated for the proposed construction of a 48,500 gsf New Building Addition to PS 174Q (two stories with a mechanical penthouse over a cellar) to serve 428 students.

Tectonic was contracted as the geotechnical and civil engineer to the project Architect. Services included: preliminary and final geotechnical investigation (borings, infiltration); conceptual site and stormwater planning; detailed site, grading, drainage, utility, erosion control (NYC SCA Green School Guide-compliant), builders pavement planning, and recreation design. Since the project occupied NYC Parks Department land, continuous interface with the Department was a critical element of the project schedule and involved 5 separate filings and approvals. Other reviewing and jurisdictional entities included ConEdison, National Grid, NYC DEP (Green Infrastructure, SCP), NYC DOT (curb cut), and NYC SCA BCC (code review in lieu of NYC DOB). Tectonic was a key participant throughout the entire project design cycle: feasibility, schematic, design development, permitting, construction document, and bid/construction support phases.