Work is well underway as approximately 2000 terra cotta units are being replaced as part of the ongoing façade restoration project at John Jay College’s Haaren Hall on Manhattan’s West Side. The new terra cotta is replacing damaged terra cotta, and some cast stone and fiber-reinforced concrete units, restoring some of the 1904 structure’s lost architectural integrity. New waterproofing and stainless steel anchorage will extend the building’s life – the entire facade will also be cleaned. SUPERSTRUCTURES is the Architect/Engineer for the project, which is being managed by The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York for the City University of New York campus; the contractor is Nicholson and Galloway.

Is your inner private-eye up for a challenge? Submitted for your consideration: These umbrella stands at a Jersey Shore resort weigh 175 pounds each. Lifting or sliding them is a 2-person operation – at least. Last September both stands were perfectly aligned with the paving pattern of the pool deck. The deck has been undisturbed by snowplows or mechanical devices all winter.

The Daily News chose an appropriate photo to illustrate their article on New York City’s new green energy law. The Borough of Manhattan Community College’s new 2.3-acre roof was designed by SUPERSTRUCTURES to accommodate what is now the site of the largest public photovoltaic facility in Manhattan. Project owner CUNY and contractor ABCD Construction share the credit on the project, at the forefront of NYC’s green energy initiatives.

SUPERSTRUCTURES is excited to launch the Frost Jacking Day Tracker. "Frost jacking" is what happens when freezing temperatures cause rain or snow to turn to ice and expand cracks in a facade. As cycles of freezing and thawing accumulate, the cracks continue to grow and exterior hazardous conditions or interior water damage or leaks can occur.

One of the exciting aspects of our work in exterior restoration is the challenge of being at the forefront in the use of new materials and technologies in the preservation of existing structures. In a recent example, SUPERSTRUCTURES was the first firm in New York City to specify Vacuum Insulated Panel (VIP) insulation in a re-roofing project. New NYC energy code requirements stipulate a minimum continuous insulation of R-30 value on the entire roof deck. Using conventional insulation to achieve this value can raise roof heights to a problematic level in relation to adjacent building components such as mechanical equipment, parapets and skylights.

Solar power is the wave of the future of energy, all over the world.  SUPERSTRUCTURES is excited to report that we’re now part of this growing trend, having designed the roof now supporting the city’s largest solar panel array, at the Borough of Manhattan Community College.

Because we’re proud of what we do at SUPERSTRUCTURES and because we believe exterior restoration work is important, we started an in-house seminar series in 2003.

And that’s a wrap!  Our two-year façade project at 404 Lafayette Street and 708 Broadway is complete.  It was an honor to work on these historic buildings, constructed in the 1890s.  Designed by Cleverdon and Putzel, these heritage structures are adjacent to one another, connected for internal access in 1912.

A recent article by a fellow practitioner paints the sidewalk vaults of New York City as lurking hazards lying in wait, ready to swallow up unsuspecting cars or pedestrians. (We exaggerate, but only slightly.)

This Wall Street Journal article discusses the deferred maintenance dilemma affecting many U.S. colleges. At SUPERSTRUCTURES, we’re assisting NYC colleges prioritize and judiciously deploy funds for building envelope projects. We’re working with Columbia, NYU, Fordham, and each of the 24 campuses of the City University of New York.