Ithaca Builds

Mapping, photos and information for Ithaca construction and development projects

Seneca Way Interior Photos & Apartments

February 17, 2014 // by Jason Henderson

Seneca Way Apartments hosted a tour last Thursday evening, and I had the opportunity to take some photos of a one bedroom that has been furnished for a model, and a two bedroom unit. Representatives from CSP Management (the building managers) and Newman Development Group explained the features of the building, answered questions, and showed a large crowd around the new building.
The finishes are quite nice, and the units themselves are well laid out, and very modern. The kitchens feature Corian countertops, solid cabinetry, stainless steel Whirlpool appliances, and each unit has its own Whirlpool Duet washer & dryer. The living rooms are all adjacent to the kitchen, with a bar counter in between, and pendant lighting. Some of the bathrooms appear to be ADA-adaptable, with low clearances for entries, and toilets far enough from the wall to install the proper sizing and clearances for grab bars. All bathroom floors are tile, and shower units are fiberglass. The master bedrooms in each two bedroom unit (types C & D) have large walk-in closets, and a private bath off the bedroom.
Warren Real Estate‘s new offices look completed, and by the end of this month, the Park Foundation will begin moving-in.

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Floor plans from Seneca Way’s website:
 
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New Park Foundation Offices in the Seneca Way Building

February 7, 2014 // by Jason Henderson

park-foundationroyparkI was kindly invited to take a tour of the future office space for the Park Foundation in Seneca Way, and here are some photos and descriptions of the space, which is being finished-up near the end of this month.
For a brief history overview: The Park Foundation was established by Roy Hampton Park, Sr. in 1966. Roy H. Park had humble beginnings, as the son of a tenant farmer in North Carolina. He had a knack for writing, and began reporting for local newspapers at the age of 12, finished high school, and went to study at North Carolina State University. He worked his way up to a reporter’s position at the local Associated Press bureau by the time he graduated, and also editor-in-chief of his college paper. He pioneered ways of promoting cotton as public relations director for the North Carolina Cotton Growers Cooperative Association, then in 1942, moved to Ithaca to work for the Grange League Federation (which later became Agway). In the late 1940s, he teamed-up with food critic Duncan Hines to launch Hines-Park Foods, and their runaway success product “Duncan Hines Cake Mix.”
The company was acquired by Proctor & Gamble, and Park stayed on until 1962, around the time he began building a communications business, “Park Broadcasting, Inc.”, which was renamed Park Communications for a public offering in 1983. By the time of his passing in 1993, the company owned 21 radio stations, seven television stations, and 144 publications. He developed close relations with Ithaca College (Roy H. Park School of Communications), Cornell’s Johnson School, and North Carolina State University, serving in board and advisory roles. He left 70 percent of his holdings to the foundation, which provides support through scholarships in higher education, quality media that heightens public awareness of critical issues and protection of the environment.
I’ll gladly admit, I’m a big fan of Bill Moyers/ Moyers and Company and PBS FRONTLINE, both of which the foundation has supported over the years, along with hosts of scholars, public broadcasting agencies, environmental, social justice, and policy groups.

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The move into this new space is a big upgrade for the foundation team, and I particularly like the work that has been done to design and lay out the space. LeChase Construction is working on this project, HOLT Architects is providing the design services, and the space is aiming for LEED Platinum Commercial Interiors certification. The HVAC system is a combination baseboard hot water and cooling units (above the drop ceiling), with LED lighting, occupancy sensors, and variable air volume duct fanning. The duct sizing is huge- ideal for saving energy since operating and circulation time is drastically reduced.

 

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The main arterial hallway drives through the space, with offices and a couple meeting rooms along the outside walls, mainly work, utility, and bathrooms along the inside walls, and the reception area is in the middle of the action, providing visitors with a wide open space and view of the outside, opposed to many waiting room layouts that can feel tucked-away. The tile will be going in over the weekend, with carpeting following-up next week. The walls are mostly complete, and there are beautiful sets of wooden door and light-box/clerestory window frames that are being installed. All the glass should help light shine through the space, eliminating the need for electric lighting on sunny days. A total of twelve thermostats control the air service in the space, only kicking heat or cooling at the appropriate time to the areas necessary.

 

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Shot of the layout here:

 

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All in all, it’s going to be quite a nice office space once completed, and the location is impeccable. I should be following-up with photos from a tour of the apartment interiors next week.

 

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Seneca Way Nighttime Photos

January 20, 2014 // by Jason Henderson

It’s always interesting seeing how buildings turn out looking at nighttime. Much of it seems to reflect the lighting decisions, facade texture, and colors. I’m a fan of these LED pole lights lighting the curve along the sidewalk- they give a solid definition to the property boundaries, and may provide a good visual cue to drivers.
Several of the units look completely finished from the outside, as I imagine the unlit ones probably are as well. The second level 8,600 SF Class-A office space for Warren Real Estate and the Park Foundation is still being worked on, along with some aspects of the exterior like support column wraps and garage doors.

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Seneca Way Updated Photos

November 29, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

Still awaiting that section of facade to be finished, and also the column wraps to go around the exposed support columns on the ground and second levels, railings on the steps and along the walkway on the east side, and parking signage. I’m not sure of the status on the interior, but with apartments rented for January, it must be quite far along. Hopefully once Spring arrives, the landscaping along Seneca will come alive, but the building itself creates a nice new visual anchor on the way down State Street.

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Seneca Way Landscaping & Photo Update

November 10, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

The Newman Development/ Warren Real Estate project at 140 Seneca Way is set to open less than two months from now. There’s been considerable landscaping progress since I last swung around- new concrete poured for the western lot and ground-level parking beneath the building, as well as soil and plantings. Besides the fill-in of the missing section of facade, I doubt we’ll see much more change on the outside beyond this point. It’s been nice watching this one go up- definitely a swift pace. Browse the first project page here for photos going all the way back to the demolition of the former Challenge Industries building.
Not long from now, Ithaca will be welcoming 32 new one-bedroom apartments, six two-bedroom apartments, and 8,600 square feet of office space for Warren Real Estate and the Park Foundation.

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Seneca Way Updated Photos

October 27, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

Here are some updated photos of the Seneca Way project from last week. The render below doesn’t show the window shades, and they haven’t been installed yet, so I imagine that they’ve been dropped. The steel support columns on the exterior will be wrapped to form a cylindrical shape, and the western lot will be due for walls shortly.
The website contains some nice interior renderings of what the apartments will look like (one shot attached below). The sidewalks have been in place for a while now, so they may open-up once all the work along the exterior has been completed.

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Seneca Way is looking more and more like Seneca Way

October 17, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

The Seneca Way EIFS facade is almost entirely complete, with the exception of that one section on the eastern face that was passed-over when that side was being assembled and coated around a month ago. I imagine it’s staying unfinished until all the building materials have made their way inside through those windows from the lifts. The terrace looks due for its railing soon, and we’ll probably see the EFCO Sunshades go in above the windows as well. The second story bay windows for the office level have been installed, and the sidewalk stretching around the curve has been fully poured and floated.

…And they’re signing leases- move-ins begin January 2014, less than 3 months away.

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Seneca Way Updated Facade Photos & Paved Lot

October 10, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

Seneca Way’s EIFS facade is still coming along, with most of the faces either fully finished, or installed and base coated, and the eastern parking lot has been curbed and paved with asphalt. The future commercial office second story has new bays of windows on the east and west sides (you can see the grey steel frames), and the curved side will have full top to bottom windows.

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Seneca Way Facade Progress Photos

October 4, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

Seneca Way is looking more and more like Seneca Way as the weeks go by. Facade installation has been going at great pace, and I imagine the interior is shaping up since all the windows have been in since early September. There’s a shot of the sidewalk view from the steep section of Seneca St in the tiled photos below showing little public visibility of the northern facade.

Seneca Way’s site also has some new interior render images of the apartments: see the bottom of the floor plans page here.

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Seneca Way Eastern & Southern Facade Progress

September 26, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

EIFS base coat and finish coat texture applications are following-up right on the heels of the insulation material installation on the southern side of the Seneca Way facade. Southern side looks about half-way through, and the eastern side is nearly complete.

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