SUPERSTRUCTURES Engineers + Architects

“Change Order” seems to be a favorite name for boats owned by construction (and restoration) contractors. Change orders are modifications to a base construction contract, usually increasing the cost, and often extending the completion date. And they’re profitable for contractors. While the base contract is negotiated in a competitive environment, the selected contractor is the only “bidder” for change order work once the project is underway. Drawings and specs (CDs) that are imprecise or ambiguous are rife with potential for contractor exploitation, especially if unit prices for potential change order work have not been negotiated in advance. Often, contractors will submit a very low bid, anticipating in advance (as they prepare the bid) the change orders they will be submitting, based on the CDs’ vulnerabilities. In particular, CDs that rely on rudimentary drawings and copious verbiage are target-rich environments. We know this because we’ve reviewed projects where the consultants have followed this approach. In some cases, project costs doubled relative to the initial budget, and the schedule expanded by months. Conversely, tight drawings minimize change orders. They represent solutions formulated by prudent investigation and analysis and embrace the “five Cs” (clear, correct, concise, complete, and consistent). By the way, please let us know if you ever see a boat named “Low Bid.” #changeorders #restoration #contractors #boats

Habitat’s “Problem Solved!” podcast recently interviewed SUPERSTRUCTURES’ principal, John Galetta, RA. John discussed our strategic approach to facade restoration at 160 West End Avenue which saved the building $3 million: https://lnkd.in/e4uNhVfn John explains how the firm conducted an independent study (not simply a second opinion) of the 30-story building’s cavity wall, used non-destructive testing techniques to map the location and condition of wall ties, and formulated a surgical approach to restoration that provided significant savings in money and time, compared with the approach recommended by the prior consultant. #restoration #savings #coop

Shadow inspectors? Soon after sunrise (hence the shadows) SUPERSTRUCTURES’ team was already at work on a boom lift at Hunter College, conducting a facade inspection of one of the many academic buildings within the CUNY system we’ve been engaged to examine and restore. #BuildingInspection #CUNY #DASNY

HABITAT'S PROBLEM SOLVED! How a Manhattan co-op saved $3.1 million on facade repairs through strategic engineering 🏢 A fascinating case study from 160 West End Avenue: When their initial facade inspection recommended a $4M repair project for masonry ties, the board sought a second opinion. Through advanced investigation techniques including borescope surveys and pulse dive technology, SUPERSTRUCTURES Engineers + Architects discovered that a targeted approach would suffice. Listen on your favorite podcast platform or download here: https://lnkd.in/eSkXxRRM

This 15-story student residence was built in 1987. At more than 30 years old, its roofs and terraces were leaking and required replacement. The existing roof insulation conformed with 1987 NYC code requirements, but its thickness was minimal. The updated NYC energy code mandated a minimum insulation value of R-30 over the entire surface of any new roof installation. The thickness of conventional insulation required to achieve R-30 would have raised the new roof surface above the level of existing skylights, parapet flashings, door sills, and AC equipment, requiring reconstruction, replacement, or relocation of these significant components. The client also required a rapid construction turnaround of only ten days. Instead of using conventional insulation to achieve R-30, SUPERSTRUCTURES researched, and ultimately specified, Vacuum Insulated Panels (VIPs). VIP technology capitalizes on the excellent insulating value of a perfect vacuum (like outer space) that provides no medium through which heat can be transferred. VIPs are rigid panels with a microporous core which is evacuated, encased, and sealed in a gas-tight envelope. A 1.57-inch-thick VIP provides the same R-value (35) as six inches of conventional insulation. SUPERSTRUCTURES thus became the first firm in New York City to specify VIPs for this roof restoration project. By specifying a continuous layer of VIPs below the roof membrane, we were able to achieve the code-mandated R-value (and then some). By avoiding disturbance of the existing roof components, we cut the cost of roof replacement for the twelve setback roofs in half, saving $250,000. And the project was completed within the client’s ten-day schedule. #dormitory #roofing #hightech

Members of our team participated in the 42nd annual SIAEA* New York gala at Pier 60 on November 9th. SUPERSTRUCTURES was a sponsor of the event. Shown here (L to R) are: Vikrant Patel, Edwin Varghese, PE, Nimesh Shah, PE, and Niraj Rawal. The gala is always a highlight of the year for us. Congratulations to all the event’s honorees and scholarship recipients! * SIAEA is the Society of Indo-American Engineers and Architects. Established in 1981, the Society’s mission is to organize and unite in fellowship engineering and architectural professionals of Indian origin based in and around NYC as one organization and one voice. The SIAEA fights strenuously to break down social and economic barriers which once marginalized Indian-American professionals, enabling its members and non-members to excel within NYC’s thriving Engineering and Architectural industry. #siaea #gala #team

What’s the difference between a portico and a sidewalk shed? At the end of the day, it’s permanence. Bologna, Italy is famous for its stately porticoes (38 miles worth) and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. New York City’s utilitarian equivalent—sidewalk sheds—are similar in that both are sheltering, street-level spaces for pedestrians. But the similarity ends there. NYC has 400 miles of sidewalk shed, and they definitely don’t place us in contention for UNESCO designation. SUPERSTRUCTURES applauds NYC’s “Get Sheds Down” initiative and its goal of minimizing the intrusion of sidewalk sheds. Our systematic approach to facade inspection and restoration (with our emphasis on pre-construction preparation) offers the potential to get each project completed, scaffolding dismantled, and the sidewalk unobstructed as rapidly as possible. We also strive to keep building owners informed on the latest requirements of New York’s Facade Inspection Safety Program (FISP) aka Local Law 11, to help them stay ahead of the inspection curve, keeping the need for long-term sheds in check. Sidewalk shed solutions like Urban Umbrella’s (above) attempt to turn a bug into a feature, but they’re not likely to rival the experience of sipping a Negroni in the shade of Bologna’s historic porticoes. #portico #sidewalkshed #restoration

The brick veneer of this 1960s, 30-story coop exhibited cracks, spalls, and displacement. The board had retained a consultant who recommended installation of almost 70,000 post-installed helical veneer anchors at an estimated cost of $1.6 million. Their recommendation reflexively followed code-mandated anchor spacing over 100% of the facade. SUPERSTRUCTURES was retained to perform an independent study. Via three 30-story drops, we performed non-destructive scanning to detect the presence of existing metal anchors. We followed up with minimally invasive probes at representative locations to validate the results of our initial scan and to visually evaluate the condition of the concealed anchors. Based on our investigation, we concluded that anchors were required only in select locations, under certain conditions. We established criteria by which these locations were determined. Ultimately, only 10,000 anchors were required to secure the facade, at a cost of $400,000. In addition to the anchors, other repairs were performed at discrete locations, as shown in the photos. #facades #restoration #savings

The “zipper” installation in Milan by British artist, Alex Chinneck and SITE’s postmodern facades for Best Products have been engineered to appear to be failing on a monumental scale. SUPERSTRUCTURES’ practice, on the other hand, focuses on restoring facades and the structure that supports them. Our decades of experience, talented team, and tight construction documents have made us the leading NYC E/A firm focused on “skin and skeleton.” While we appreciate the ingenuity required to safely detail architectural “follies” like these, we prefer the appearance of the projects we feature on our website. (Of course, NYC’s LL11 doesn’t apply to these buildings—they’re less than seven stories tall, and they’re not located in the city) #facades #restoration #safety

Why feature our work as Engineers and Architects on the Towers at CCNY? The project is a good example of our maxim, “fix, then file.”   The building is a ten-story dormitory with a concrete frame clad in a thin brick veneer. The veneer was deteriorating, and expansion joints and sealants were failing.   City College recognized that it made sense to have SUPERSTRUCTURES address these conditions before filing a FISP report. That way, they were confident that the report would be a formality rather than a rude awakening.   SUPERSTRUCTURES’ team performed a comprehensive physical inspection from suspended scaffolding, produced a restoration design, and provided construction administration. Restoration work included: face brick replacement and repointing; concrete crack repair; concrete coating; stone crack injection repairs; expansion and sealant joint restoration; and localized roof membrane repairs.   Thanks to CCNY and William K Construction of NY, LLC. #restoration #college #masonry