Ithaca Builds

Mapping, photos and information for Ithaca construction and development projects

Project Updates

Seneca Way Facade EIFS Progress

September 19, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

Seneca Way’s EIFS (Exterior insulation finishing system) facade is going up quickly, as you can see the eastern side is nearly complete, and the southern side is progressing nicely. With some more fine weather on tap for next week, I doubt this part of the project will take longer than expected. The posts with flags on the roof makes me think there’s material going up there as well, I’d bet a membrane EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer, lots of four-letter acronyms here). If you haven’t seen it yet, check out the website for Seneca Way, which contains full information on the amenities and floor plans.

Seneca_Way_9181

Seneca_Way_9185

Breckenridge Place Updated Photos

September 19, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

I don’t see much change on the building from the outside, so I imagine the interior is seeing most of the action this past week, however, the curbing and a few feet of road asphalt on both the Cayuga Street and Seneca Street sides has been demolished and dug-out, probably in preparation for the new sidewalks, curbs, storm drains, and landscaping.

Breckenridge_Place_9172
Breckenridge_Place_9173

Press Bay Alley Large Green Street Window In-Place

September 18, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

Our upcoming urban micro-retail project has its floor to deck window in-place on the Green Street side now, and there’s been some work on the back wall patching pre-existing block wall penetrations. There’s a render of this project posted back in May showing the future steel-framed glass panels along the garage bays, and new entry doors to the spaces. Accufab is doing the custom metal framing work, so I have no doubt it will look quite polished when complete.

Press_Bay_Alley_9101

Press_Bay_Alley_9181

Lake Street Bridge Work Planned, Old Elmira Road Delayed

September 18, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

The City of Ithaca has announced a $1.464 million capital project to replace the deck and refurbish the structure of the Lake Street Bridge (the first bridge after Ithaca Falls, behind the high school) with an 80% reimbursement from the Federal Highway Administration, and a 15% reimbursement from the NYS Department of Transportation.

In other civic news, the primary work for the Old Elmira Road complete street project has been delayed until next year.

Lake_Street_Bridge_9163

Ithaca College’s Hill Center Wrapping-Up, Looking Sharp

September 17, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

Finally made it back up to Ithaca College to see Hill Center’s renovations, and it looks like they’re finishing up. This building has significantly turned around- it was already unrecognizable on the outside last time I ran up in August, and now the inside is as well. The finishes look great- they’re using the Parklex exterior facade panels (it’s a high-density stratified timber panel with a hardwood veneer and protective coating), the interior lighting is all new (open ceilings are freshly painted), with hanging panels accenting the hall ceilings, and blue wall panels highlighting the gymnasium entrances. The gymnasium itself is great- super bright, with new bleachers, flooring, and finishes. The blue-tinted glass stair-tower offers a nice view of the campus and lake beyond, and it certainly anchors the building from the outside.

Ithaca_College_Hill_Center_91718

Ithaca_College_Hill_Center_91713

Ithaca_College_Hill_Center_91712

Whalen Center:

Here are some photos and the original planning documents from July for The Whalen Center for music as well (next door). The exterior of the building is undergoing a similar facade treatment (not Parklex, but Trespa Meteon instead- here’s a snapshot of the variety: Trespa Projects), and the interior seems to be quite fresh, with new paint, flooring, and some new lockers. The cladding design was done by King + King Architects.

Ithaca_College_Hill_Center_91731

Original Planning Proposal:

Planned Parenthood Two Towers and Foundation Walls

September 16, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

The elevator tower and stair tower have been formed (and possibly poured.. hard to tell) another level up, and the foundation walls have been wrapped in rigid insulation foam almost all the way around and covered back up with soil. There’s probably also some gravel fill and a footer drain pipe running around the base of the foundation walls as well. The concrete pads look like they’re intended to provide for structural support, and the rest of the interior space will likely be covered in rigid insulation, then poured as a slab.

Planned_Parenthood_9164
Planned_Parenthood_9163

Gates Hall Updated Photos

September 16, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

Just some updated photos of Gates Hall from last week- entryway “feet” are growing. Wonder how heavy those concrete blocks are..

Gates_Hall_9102

Making Room Exhibit: Museum of the City of New York

September 13, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

Swung down to the Making Room Exhibit in NYC this week and wanted to share some photos from this project put on by the Citizens Housing Planning Council. The Making Room initiative works on:

“cutting-edge housing and demographic research, new design proposals, and pragmatic policy recommendations that would expand housing options in New York City to meet the needs of our diverse and growing population.

The Making Room initiative is specifically focused on three new housing types for the New York City marketplace:

1. Small, efficient studios designed for single person households;

2. Legal shared housing options for unrelated adults;

3. Accessory units to make a single family home more flexible for extended families or additional renters.”

Many of the zoning and building codes in NYC and across the US were written under the premise that housing rules could enforce a lifestyle of traditional households and “the ideal American family.” Over time, it’s led to the development of a housing stock that leaves out a large portion of the population that would prefer to live in units or developments that have been made illegal. The mismatch of supply and demand primarily hurts housing consumers.

The plan has been to identify these specific issues, inform, and analyze what policies should change in order to allow for the development of a better housing stock.

By far, the most interesting thing in the exhibit is the micro-unit (it’s 325 square feet, but you’d be amazed by how big it actually feels, due to the clever design, and space-saving built-ins- here’s a link to better images of the unit). Parts of the showcase included information on other projects that are being planned or have been built all over the world. All in all, it was very interesting.

Ithaca-based Taitem Engineering is working on LEED, Commissioning and more in collaboration with nArchitects, the adAPT NYC Design Winners for the My Micro NY project [thanks Jan!].

Making_Room_Exhibit01

Making_Room_Exhibit35

State & Mitchell Intersection Curbs and Sidewalks

September 12, 2013 // by Jason Henderson

Western curb was put in about a week ago, and now the eastern curb, eastern sidewalk, and most of the new western sidewalk is in place. Next up we should see finished hardscape, decals and pop-up for the lanes and bicycle jug handle, some prep work for running electric service, and the raising of the new traffic light poles.

State_Mitchell_9102

State_Mitchell_9104