Projects

Four-Decade-Old Problem Solved in 18 Months

Tall Trees, a community of 84 homes located in the Town of Wappinger, had been on water conservation measures for 40 years due to poorly producing wells and water quality issues. The primary obstacles were the availability of municipal water and obtaining the funds to connect to the municipal water system.

​Fortunately, a municipal water line had been run nearby. Feeling that a connection was possible, we conducted a feasibility and capacity study. Aside from the local municipality, approvals from several agencies were needed, including the DEP, BOH and DEC. Negotiations were successful, and based on favorable engineering specifications I successfully obtained two grants, saving the homeowner’s two thirds of the cost of the new system.

Fixing 22 Years of Neglected Maintenance

The Wappinger Emergency Services Building houses the NY State Police and the town’s ambulance provider. The 22-year-old building had significant problems: a deteriorating roof, no gutters, partially malfunctioning HVAC system, failed plumbing, and subpar electrical systems. Over the years, the neglected components had contributed to numerous issues, such as sewer flooding, roof leaks, nonfunctional bathrooms, broken window seals, heating and AC failures, persistent flickering lights, and interior mold.

​Aside from the vast scope of problems to be remedied, the project complexity was compounded by additional factors: the building occupants had to be able to perform their essential duties during renovations, and the anticipated $2 million cost of the project brought New York’s Wicks Law into play, requiring that all work must be bid separately but simultaneously.

​We were able to draw up all of the required, highly detailed specifications within 5 months and obtain prompt approvals from the Town, the Office of the State Controller, and the NY Attorney General’s office. Simultaneously, I successfully applied for a $145,000 shared services grant to offset the cost of the roof and a portion of the HVAC repairs. Aside from the usual requirements for bonding, insurance and permits, this job also required all contactors be subjected to background checks.

​Work was divided in three phases, requiring coordination between the engineer in charge, general contractor, the Supervisor of Facilities, and the tenants. The timeline, already complex, was made more so by the need to move the tenants out of areas when work was ongoing, as well as managing the contractors onsite enabling them to work together efficiently while keeping additional utility costs low. Currently on time, the project has entered phase II and is due for completion in March 2018.

Fire in an Aging HVAC System Poses Challenges

HVAC systems and exterior windows are an integral part of a building, and revamping a 32-year-old, 20,000 square foot building can be a large undertaking. On this recent project, time had left a mark. All the windows had broken seals, wasting energy in both the heating and cooling systems. The original perimeter baseboard heating system was still in place and provided inadequate heat, particularly in the hallways and vestibules. The fresh air exchange had broken down, raising health concerns. And a malfunctioning exhaust fan had recently caused smoky fire in the ductwork, the residue of which was further impacting air quality in the building.

​Putting another bandage on the problem would inevitably have been a short-term solution at best and would have made a final solution even more costly. I divided the complicated project into several stages. Environmental testing confirmed that soot and other contaminants were present. Due to the fire, duct cleaning needed to be coordinated with the insurance company. Next, we moved to the windows. Due to the lack of gutters and adequate drainage around the building, water had leaked into the walls and under the subfloor, creating issues that had to be mitigated while the windows were replaced. This phase was recently successfully completed.

​The final stage will be to modernize the HVAC system, currently in the design and implementation. The existing, perimeter heating system will be replaced with a more efficient split system that better meets the needs of each individual suite. The vestibules and hallways will be tied into AC forced air system, which is capable of providing adequate heating and cooling.

​This was a challenging project due to the age of the systems and the issues caused by years of minimal maintenance, but it is well in hand and building residents will soon be enjoying a comfortable and safe working environment.