Fresh Creek Coastal Protection & Resiliency Project
In the event of storms or high tides, Canarsie’s Fresh Creek, an inlet of Jamaica Bay in Brooklyn, dumps water into the adjacent neighborhood’s storm sewer system, resulting in flooding and overflowing from the creek itself. To address the flooding into the shoreline sewer system, the Dormitory Authority State of New York (DASNY) and the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery selected the joint venture of UrbanNY and KS Engineers to restore the storm sewer system draining into Fresh Creek by constructing tide gates over five storm sewers along 108th Street and reconstructing the Avenue M outfall.
The $14 million project installed new tide gate chambers within culverts flowing to Fresh Creek at Avenue K, Avenue L, Avenue M, Avenue N, and Seaview Avenue. The gates, or “flappers,” protect the exit point from the sewage pipelines into the creek. This helps prevent creek water from backflowing through culverts and allows the existing drainage system to function more efficiently. This important project helped the community adapt to the effects of climate change by reducing flooding during future storms and sea-level rise, and assisted the area in recovering more quickly during future storm events.
UrbanNY reviewed studies, policies, and assessments performed by city and state agencies and identified areas with the highest risk of climate change-related flooding, based on the rainfall events, storm surges, and sea level rises determined to be the most probable by the NYCDEP and GOSR. UrbanNY used science-based mapping of rainfall events, storm surges, and sea level rise projections to determine the design criteria for the coastal protection elements. Engineering solutions incorporated low-level barriers and green infrastructure. Other services included identifying living shoreline strategies for coastal protection, flood mitigation, and improved rainwater management. Hydrological models were used to test the effects of proposed solutions on drainage systems.
The Fresh Creek Coastal Protection Project was honored with a Gold Award by the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York’s 2023 Engineering Excellence Awards program. The project was recognized in the waste and stormwater category at the organization’s 56th Annual Engineering Excellence Awards Gala.
Dormitory Authority State of New York
Fresh Creek Coastal Protection & Resiliency Project
Recent Projects
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New York, NY
Battery Park City Authority (BPCA)Read more: Construction Management Services for Tribeca Bridge PaintingThe Tribeca Bridge, which crosses the West Side Highway near Chambers Street, in Manhattan, was repainted — the first repainting since the bridge’s construction in 1992. The bridge connects directly to Stuyvesant High School, one of the most elite public high schools in the country. The $2.3 million project was completed ahead of schedule and within budget, without safety incidents, claims, or change orders.
Urban provided construction management services for the Battery Park City Authority (BPCA). We monitored the work of up to three contractors and supervised a field inspection subconsultant. Project challenges included painting in winter weather conditions; maintaining safe access for Stuyvesant High School students; and maintaining traffic over the 11-lane West Side Highway. To expedite the project despite winter conditions, the contractor contained and heated the entire bridge. Traffic control involved night time alternating single and double lane closures to install and remove the containment platform.
In addition to construction management, Urban provided bridge safety inspection services, after a hole was discovered in a bridge beam. Our bridge inspectors provided BPCA a report and recommendations to repair the hole. We also worked closely with the contractor to respond to student and teacher concerns about paint fumes, hiring an environmental firm to verify that the air quality inside the school was safe.
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Manhattan, NY
NYC Department of Design and ConstructionRead more: Regents Family Center Building Envelope RehabilitationThe Regents Family Center is a 100-year-old,18-story former hotel building located at 2720 Broadway. It is a multi-service center providing NYC Department of Homeless Services’ (NYCDHS) clients with intake, assessment, and shelter services for families in need.
Urban Engineers of New York (UrbanNY) serves as the Construction Manager (CM) for this $12 million project, which supports the NYC Department of Design and Construction (NYCDDC) and this NYCDHS facility. As the CM for the NYCDDC, UrbanNY has oversight of the prime contractor performing the construction. UrbanNY communicates and coordinates with several stakeholders, including our direct client, NYCDDC; the project client, NYCDHS; the sponsor agency, which provides client services and building maintenance for NYCDHS; the prime contractor; the design professionals; and an independent third-party Special Inspections agency.
UrbanNY staff are located on site performing a variety of construction management services, including chairing and conducting bi-weekly progress meetings, weekly workshop meetings, and as-needed special issue meetings.
UrbanNY monitors and enforces the project site safety program, conducts quality assurance monitoring, reviews project schedules, and performs ongoing construction inspections to ensure work complies with specifications.
UrbanNY produces daily, bi-weekly, and monthly progress reports.
UrbanNY reviews, approves, and processes the contractor’s payment requisitions by initiating them in the online NYCDDC Anywhere Project Development Management System (PDMS). UrbanNY also reviews, negotiates, and processes the contractor’s change orders through initiation into the online PDMS.
UrbanNY reviews and coordinates contractor submittals with design professionals, including all contractor submittals such as shop drawings, specifications, RFIs, and sample material submissions. The team tracks all construction permits and ensures the submission of required contractor documents and credentials.
UrbanNY also performs specialized administrative tasks such as preparation of capital funds contingency estimates for additional SOW, issues field order directives, coordinates with the U.S. Postal Service and privately owned neighboring buildings in the management and use of license access agreements, develops special reports for NYCDDC use with community relations and NY press inquiries, and practices sensitivity and responsiveness to local community and elected representatives’ concerns.
The Regents Family Center Building Envelope Rehabilitation project scope of work includes:
- Facade Restoration: High-quality rehabilitation and replication of ornamental terra cotta, stone, and metal elements, including replacement of cracked terra cotta with architectural cast stone.
- Parapet Reconstruction: Complete rebuild of the ornate masonry parapet at the 16th-floor setback, including structural steel spandrel replacement and concrete slab repairs.
- Stucco Replacement: Removal of deteriorated stucco and application of new historically accurate stucco across the entire east façade.
- Copper Mansard Roof: Installation of a new copper roof over the 17th and 18th floors, including copper gutters and leaders, with 25 recessed and dormered windows on Broadway and 104th Street elevations.
- Roofing Systems: Replacement of three roofing systems—main roof, 16th-floor setback roof, and rear first-floor roof—with insulated, fluid-applied membranes, new roof drains, and safety railings at parapets.
- Masonry Repairs: Includes mortar removal and re-pointing, face-brick and masonry unit replacement, cast stone windowsill replacement, corner and control joint reconstruction, and partial concrete slab rebuilds.
- Lintel Refurbishment: Restoration of existing steel lintels and installation of new hung lintels with welded spandrels, flashing, reinforced veneer brick, and protective coatings on exposed steel.
- Sealant Replacement: New sealants at all window perimeters and lintel interfaces.
- Hazardous Material Abatement: Removal of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) and lead-based paint (LBP).
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Queens, NY
Port Authority of NY and NJRead more: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) RedevelopmentThe Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has undertaken the historic $19 billion transformation of John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) into a world-class airport. The public/private redevelopment program to build a new JFK includes two giant new terminals across five previous terminal sites, expansion and modernization of existing terminals, streamlined roadways, popular local retail and dining, and stunning New York artwork. Handling more than 62 million passengers a year, JFK is the nation’s busiest airport for international travel and is an indispensable part of global travel and the region’s economy.
The JFK Redevelopment Program will transform JFK into a modern 21st-century airport. The transformation will create a unified terminal layout, world-class facilities, centralized ground transportation options, expanded taxiways and gate capacity, and state-of-the-art security. Key program components for this design-bid-build and design-build via TAA include a new Terminal 1 and the redevelopment of Terminals 4, 6, and 8. The project also includes improved utility infrastructure, roadways, a parking garage, with an elevated pedestrian bridge connecting to the New Terminal One.
The PANYNJ selected UrbanNY to provide construction management, contract administration, inspections, project controls, document management, cost estimating, PACC and change order preparation, construction work in place verification, construction invoice approvals, staff budgeting, construction cash forecasts, construction and financial progress monitoring and reporting, BIM technology coordination and oversight, staging, and logistics.
