Ithaca Builds

Mapping, photos and information for Ithaca construction and development projects

TC3’s Coltivare Space Plumbing and Framing Work

May 21, 2014 // by Jason Henderson

Tompkins Cortland Community College‘s 17,000 square foot Coltivare space inside the ground floor of the Cayuga Street Garage has been moving along with a ton of below-slab plumbing work, and metal stud wall framing. Cuts made into the concrete floor slab have been jackhammered out, dug, and pipes laid by HALCO Plumbing & Heating for a slew of drains that will serve bar, prep, kitchen, classroom, and restroom sinks and toilets.

Due to the downward sloping ceiling deck in the back half of the space from south to north, the floor layout utilizes the lower-clearance space for storage, then restrooms, then classroom space towards the southeast. The southwest to center-west portion will comprise the public restaurant, along with ample outside seating along the corner and following East Clinton Street. The plan is to be ready and open this August, in time for the Fall semester. The design for the space is by Ramsgard Architectural Design, with general contracting services by Turnbull-Wahlert. Along with Coltivare, this corner of Ithaca will be seeing quite a transformation with the addition of the 39-apartment unit Cayuga Place Residences over the course of the next year.

There’s a new online video from TC3 explaining the Farm to Bistro program, containing interviews from locals in the food and wine industry:

Cornell Klarman & Goldwin Smith Hall Photo Update

May 18, 2014 // by Jason Henderson

An excavator has been removing soil in front of the shoring wall along East Ave, and re-roofing work on Goldwin Smith has progressed to the west side of the building, facing the Arts Quad. I’m not positive, but in looking at the drawings, there must be another shoring wall to go in closer to East Ave. in order to excavate another section of soil for the future building’s foundation. The project schedule shows rock removal beginning about a week from now, so there’s probably a solid layer of bedrock underneath the excavated area. The lowest floor of Klarman Hall will sit nearly equal with Goldwin Smith’s lowest floor, so the excavation will be going down much further.

Klarman Hall will be a new 33,250 square foot Humanities Building, designed by Koetter | Kim & Associates and built by Welliver to be completed around the end of 2015. Goldwin Smith Hall was built in 1892, designed by Charles Osborne (an architecture professor), Carrère and Hastings (a prominent Beaux-Arts/neo-classical architecture firm).

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Collegetown Terrace Early May Photo Update

May 12, 2014 // by Jason Henderson

Many of the remaining sections of synthetic stucco have been coated to their final finish along the southern faces of Buildings 5 & 6 since about three weeks ago (hard to believe there was snow on the ground then), and along the roof lines, it looks like some of the metal coping has been installed over top the EPDM membrane edges. When I swung by, there was a crew on the northern side of Building 5 installing the scale-like facade, which has also progressed on Building 6’s northern side. At the entrance between Buildings 5 & 6, there’s also a set of forms for pouring a new retaining wall along Building 5. I haven’t seen the interiors, but there’s no doubt they’re far along, as the extended cold winter provided ample time for focusing on interiors at many project sites in the area. Amenities for the Building 5 units listed here.. granite counters, limestone tile, fully furnished- sounds nice.

These two buildings will be done by the end of summer, in time for the Fall semester. The developer/management company, Novarr-Mackesey has posted a new site map of the project online (embedded below, minus the future Building 7), and the General Contractor, Welliver has also been busy over at Cornell’s Klarman Hall project, which should start foundation work later this summer.

Southern faces of Buildings 5 & 6:

Site Map:

Northern face of Building 5, vinyl facade installation:

Southern face of Building 5 (west end):

West end of Building 6:

East end of Building 5, looks like work for a new retaining wall:

Planned Parenthood Nearly Complete, Interior & Exterior Photos

May 11, 2014 // by Jason Henderson

The Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes‘ Ithaca project is nearing completion: the parking lot has been paved with asphalt by Heath Asphalt Paving, the remaining sections of sidewalk and curbing have been poured, construction fence taken down, remaining openings filled with windows, window shades installed, and various other exterior and interior finish work completed by LeChase Construction. The organization hosted an open-house tour of their new facility this past Thursday, May 8th, and here are some photos taken from the exterior and interior. The design was done by Chiang O’Brien Architects.

The interior finishes have nice features like metal-framed clerestory windows above solid-core doors for each exam room, a mix of carpet tiles and linoleum, solid cabinetry and countertops, and a variety of lighting fixtures. The layout on each floor is logical: a rectangular-routed hallway wraps nurse and administrative stations on the first floor, with exam rooms, offices, and the waiting room along the exterior walls. The second floor contains mostly office space, with an additional open waiting area, and a conference room. All in all, it’s a professional-looking project (and much improved space) for a great local organization providing valuable services for the area.

Hard to believe, but five days short of a year ago, the site was a flat plot of dirt and stone when I first took some photos here May 16th, 2013.

Photos from May 8th:

April 21st:

May 5th:

Purity Ice Cream Re-Opens

May 9, 2014 // by Jason Henderson

Purity Ice Cream has re-opened and their renovated counter, serving area, seating, and bathrooms are ready to go. The side entry should follow-up shortly, and a new canvas awning will be going over the new steel canopy above the outside seating.

The renovations began back in January with some significant interior demolition of the entire serving, seating, and bathroom areas. The electrical, plumbing, and HVAC have all been completely re-done, and the finish work is all new, minus the lovely old menus.

The re-opening comprises the first phase of the project, with the interior demolition and re-furnishing of the old prep and production rooms for a large area of additional interior seating to follow. The back (west) portion of the building will be built-out for commercial tenancy, as the existing building contains ample room for a nice office unit. At this time the roof plans from the initial January plan are undetermined, so there may or may not be areas built-out above.

As the temperatures finally rise to sweat-weather in Ithaca, swing by Purity at the intersection of Meadow St and Cascadilla St and get yourself some ice cream!

The project was designed by John Snyder Architects, and work completed by Strawbridge and Jahn Builders, along with specialty trades from the area.

Concept Render:

A couple interior shots from May 21st:

And more from earlier this week:

Westgate Plaza, Finger Lakes Beverage Center Update

May 6, 2014 // by Jason Henderson

The Westgate Plaza containing the Finger Lakes Beverage Center and FedEx Office is currently being re-sided in addition to interior work that, if I’m reading the plans correctly, will result in an expanded mercantile space for the beverage center (entry on the western side, change of occupancy from S-1, storage to M, mercantile). As you can see from the roof, there’s a new layer of EPDM being installed, as submitted in the site plan review application in June last year, and the ceiling structure in southern portion of the building is being modified to accept a new drop ceiling, along with new partition walls and coolers. The renovated exterior will feature a wraparound apron roof, and a redesigned parking lot in addition to new siding.

The work is being done by Benchmark Construction Fitz Contracting LLC out of Trumansburg

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Human Services Building Expansion Plans

May 5, 2014 // by Jason Henderson

In collaboration with LaBella Associates, Tompkins County Facilities Division is planning an expansion and renovation project for the Human Services Building, which houses the Department of Social Services (DSS). LaBella recently setup an Ithaca office located in the Bank Tower Building on the Commons (they’re originally out of Rochester, NY).

The plans were presented to members of the Tompkins County Legislature back on April 2nd, which included project scopes, elevations, floor plans, and projected costs. The expansion will take place so that the Tompkins County Department of Probation and Community Justice can make the move out of the Old Library, so that the property can be re-developed.

The Phase 1 project shows an expanded footprint at the northeast end of the building to include six interview rooms, a classroom space with 48 to 56 seats, and an existing interior renovation to build-out five interview rooms (for a total of 11), a bathroom, and a visitation room. Phase 2 includes a further renovation of the south end of the building, in order to accommodate room for three offices, an interview room, a multipurpose study lounge, classroom, computer workstation area, bathroom, and a secure entry for day reporting.

Human Services Building:

LaBella Project Presentation:

Klarman Hall, Goldwin Smith Hall Photo Update

May 4, 2014 // by Jason Henderson

The metal shoring beams along East Ave appear to have been completed since early April, and the slate and metal re-roofing of Goldwin Smith Hall has progressed to the far southern edge. Foundation underpinnings for Goldwin Smith Hall will continue for the rest of this month, then further excavation of the hillside will take place along East Ave to prepare for structural foundation work for the future Klarman Hall.

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Thurston Ave Apartments Late April Photo Update

April 28, 2014 // by Jason Henderson

RABCO Highland House’s Thurston Avenue Apartments project has continued framing progress, as all three Buildings have topped-out to their final storeys, and Buildings B and C have complete trusses and plywood roofs. Building D is being trussed this week, which will conclude the framing that can be seen from the exterior. The exterior walls have been fully wrapped with Tyvek water barrier wrap, and roofing tiles began install last week.

The general contractor on this project is G.M. Crisalli, with framing by Compass Builders, and design by HOLT Architects.

Photos from April 24th:

Building C:

Building D:

Photos from April 10th:

CrossFit Pallas Cherry Street Photo Update

April 24, 2014 // by Jason Henderson

The CrossFit Pallas project is moving right along: additional sections of exterior metal siding have been installed, along with the windows, electrical rough-ins, insulation batts in the wall and ceiling cavities, interior vapor barrier, and corrugated sheet metal ceiling.

The project is being constructed by Fingerlakes Construction Co. (Clyde, NY, founded in 1969), which specializes in post frame construction (also referred to as pole building framing), and was acquired by Energy Panel Structures, Inc. last year.

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