Renovation – New York, New York

Nicholas Scoppetta Children’s Center

This project involved the renovation of the 7-story, 140,000 SF landmark Bellevue Hospital building. The Bellevue Hospital building, designed by McKim Mead & White, was built in 1912 and became the new Children’s Center for the Administration for Children’s Services.

Total renovation and restoration of this landmark building created a child-friendly environment and modern facilities for children entering the foster care system or those temporarily without a home. It also housed the Emergency Children’s Services division and the Satterwhite Academy for child welfare training and education. The social services facility included classrooms, an auditorium, computer rooms, offices, conference rooms, living quarters and sleeping clusters.

The goal was to provide a comfortable and comforting environment for children, encourage a sense of professionalism, enhance safety and security and develop appropriate functional zoning. This was the first large building project sponsored by DDC that incorporated green architecture (sustainable design criteria) and it included the following features: 1.2 watts per SF lighting density, use of light shelf for daylighting, photocell lighting sensors, occupancy sensors, low E windows, heat recovery systems, elimination of CFC refrigerants, and fresh air intake location on roof.

HVAC system design included 360 ton multi-stack chillers, cooling towers, fan coil units with heating/cooling coils, high efficiency variable frequency drive circulating pumps, variable air volume; air handling units; return air fans, and DDC and building energy management system.

Con Edison steam was used for heating the space. High efficiency heat recovery systems were utilized for domestic hot water and air handling units. Indoor diesel storage tanks, transfer pumps and day tanks were provided for emergency generator.

Electrical system design included a new electrical system for the entire building. Electric service was provided at 120/208V, 3-phase, 4-wire, 4000A from Con Edison to new bolted pressure service rated switchboards.

Emergency power for life safety and selected loads was provided from a 400 kW diesel driven generator located in the penthouse. A new Class ‘E’ addressable type system with speakers, strobes, pull-station, smoke detector, duct detectors, fan shutdown elevator recall, etc. was provided. Lighting control was accomplished with a variety of automatic controls, photocell, and occupancy sensors.

This project received both the Lucy B. Moses Preservation Award from the New York Landmarks Conservancy and the Project Excellence Award from the Preservation League of New York State.

Client

NYC Department of Design & Construction

Architect

Dattner Architects

Area

140,000 SF

Construction Cost

$64 Million

Completion Date

2001

LEED

Gold Certified

Client Reference

Mr. Joseph Coppola Principal
Dattner Architects
1385 Broadway
New York, NY 10018
(212) 247-2660

Services

Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Plumbing Engineering
Fire Protection Engineering