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August 17, 2016

New York City Department of Design and Construction Receives Three Awards From Engineering News Record

Ocean Breeze Riding Facility in Staten Island.
Ocean Breeze Riding Facility in Staten Island, winner of the 2016 ENR award for best small project

Contact:
Shavone Williams
Public Information Officer
718-391-1583

Dan Leibel
Junior Public Information Officer
718-391-1251

New York, NY—New York City Department of Design and Construction Commissioner (DDC) Feniosky Peña-Mora announced today that the agency has received three awards for “Best Projects 2016” from Engineering News Record New York, a leading construction industry publication, for projects it completed in the last 12 months.

The Public Safety Answering Center II in the Bronx received ENR New York’s “Award of Merit” in the category of Government/Public; Ocean Breeze Riding Arena in Staten Island received the award for best Small Project; and the West 215th Step Street in Manhattan was recognized as the best project in the category of Landscape/Urban Development.

“DDC’s goal is to create best-in-class projects that enhance Mayor de Blasio’s vision of a resilient, sustainable, equitable and healthy City,” said Commissioner Peña-Mora. “We are very proud to receive this recognition from a highly respected publication, representing DDC’s extraordinary contributions to both the community and the design and construction industries.”

The 9,600 square-foot Ocean Breeze Riding Facility serves as the new headquarters for Helping Others Overcome Personal Handicaps (HOOPH), a therapeutic riding program that offers physical and occupational therapy to people age 3 to 21 who live with mental and physical handicaps. Situated on Father Capodanno Boulevard on Staten Island, next door to Ocean Breeze Indoor Athletic Facility, the building’s strategic location assists in the cultivation of a healthy lifestyle for all New Yorkers. The building was designed, in conjunction with the Department of Parks and Recreation, to minimize damage to the wetlands section of Ocean Breeze Park and meet new FEMA elevation standards with the elevation of the structure

Public Safety Answering Center II (PSAC2) was designed in support of Mayor de Blasio’s vision for a more sustainable city. The 500,000 square foot, LEED Gold certified project contains a living wall, which houses plants for air filtration within the building lobby, and has green roofs to collect storm water for toilet use, which will conserve potable water throughout the building. PSAC2 will be a second emergency communications 911 call intake and dispatch center for the City and will act as a parallel operation to the existing PSAC I in downtown Brooklyn.

Interior shot of PSAC II
Exterior shot of PSAC II
The living wall at PSACII, winner of ENR’s 2016 “Award of Merit” in the category of Government/Public

The Step Street on 215th in Inwood, originally built in 1915, has been an integral part of the community for a full century connecting neighborhood residents to the subway and local businesses. DDC’s reconstruction of the Step Street added bike channels and repaired multiple years’ worth of cracked concrete. DDC also preserved two original cast-iron lamp posts, which were thoroughly restored after a rigorous review process in partnership with the Landmarks Preservation Commission, in conditions comparable to their original installment in the early 20th century. The Step Street is accessible to all pedestrian traffic and expedites the journey between Park Terrace East and Broadway.

before and after look of West 215th Step Street
Before (top) and after (bottom): 215th Step Street in Inwood, winner of ENR’s 2016 best project in the category of Landscape/Urban Development

Engineering News Record New York’s panel of judges from the design and construction industries reviewed and discussed 100 projects located throughout New York and New Jersey. Projects were evaluated on the ability of the project team to overcome challenges; contribution to the industry and community; safety; and construction and design quality. Winners will receive their awards at a presentation on October 13, where an overall “Project of the Year” will be announced.


About the NYC Department of Design and Construction
The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor de Blasio’s lenses of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, new or upgraded roadways, sewers, water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $15 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative, and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to city projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.