DDC Earns Two Awards Including “Project of the Year” For Its COVID-19 Work From the Construction Management Association of America’s NY/NJ Chapter

DDC’s Rehabilitation of Manhattan’s Sun Building Also Recognized in Joint Awards Ceremony for 2019 and 2020

DDC: Ian Michaels, 646-939-6514, michaelia@ddc.nyc.gov

(Long Island City, NY – June 11, 2021) The Construction Management Association of America’s NY/NJ Chapter (CMAA) has presented the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) with a 2020 “Project of the Year” award for the agency’s work building COVID-19 testing and collection sites. The award, in the category of projects valued at less than $25 million, was given today at the Chapter’s 27th Annual Awards event.

DDC was also selected for two other awards by CMAA, including 2020 “Project of the Year Runner-Up” in the $25-100 million category for its work building two large field hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients.

Because of the pandemic, awards for 2019 were also bestowed this year and DDC was recognized for its rehabilitation of the Sun Building in downtown Manhattan as a 2019 “Project of the Year Runner-Up” in the less than $25 million category.

“We are grateful to have been able to assist in New York City’s response to and recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. Using flexible construction management tools available under emergency authority, DDC built rapid testing sites, field hospitals, community COVID clinics and more in record time,” said DDC Commissioner Jamie Torres-Springer. “Our talented and dedicated staff deserve to be recognized for their sense of urgency getting these critical facilities designed, built and delivered to the public.”

As detailed in the DDC report DDC 2020: Delivering Innovation In A Challenging Year, in response to the pandemic DDC managed the construction of two large field hospitals totaling 1,100 beds, three COVID-19 Centers of Excellence community clinics, 28 COVID-19 testing sites, eight mobile testing trucks and 18 vaccination centers. DDC also upgraded four NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene laboratories to handle COVID specimen processing, supported the City’s “GetCool” program, which installed more than 73,000 air conditioners in the homes of low income seniors, and performed more than 400 site inspections for the City’s “Learning Bridges” program for students in blended learning.

Average construction time for DDC’s COVID-related projects:

• Testing Sites – 7 days
• Mobile Testing Trucks – 20 days
• Field Hospitals – 28 days (includes design time)
• Laboratory Upgrades – 35 days
• COVID-19 Centers of Excellence – 192 days (includes design time)

Taking advantage of emergency rules that temporarily suspended most of the regular procurement requirements for City capital projects, the work was completed in a fraction of the time of regular government contracts, taking just 11 days from the start of construction to the first patient at DDC’s 470-bed field hospital at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Queens.

The Sun Building at 280 Broadway in Manhattan once housed A. T. Stewart Company Store, the first American department store, and is now home to retail stores and the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB). The building became a National Historic Landmark in 1978 and was designated a New York City Landmark in 1986.

DDC’s façade restoration at the Sun Building included stone cleaning, stone and brick repointing, brick and marble replacement and cast iron restoration. The roofing, copper gutters and brick parapet were replaced and new lead-coated copper hoods and cornice covers were installed. The cast iron vault light glazing and skylight glazing were replaced. The wooden windows and storefronts were preserved and repainted. The iconic exterior clock and thermometer were refurbished.

The project previously received a Lucy G. Moses Award for Historic Preservation.

 

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 long-term vision of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, and new or upgraded roads, sewers and water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $15.5 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.