The upgraded Children’s Room at the Steinway Library. Image Credit: DDC.
On January 18, 2022, the Department of Design and Construction announced the reopening of the Steinway Library at 21-45 31st Street in Astoria. Steinway Library is one of the three original branches from 125 years ago that became the Long Island City Public Library system, later known as the Queens Borough Public Library. Prior to the pandemic, Steinway Library served almost 200,000 customers and circulated over 225,000 materials annually. (more…)
Department of Design and Construction Logo Image Credit: DDC
Design-build teams have already been selected to handle the demolition of structures on the current sites. On December 29, 2021, the Department of Design and Construction announced that six teams have been approved to develop detailed proposals for the design and construction of four smaller borough-based jails in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. The borough-based jails project aims to replace the facilities on Rikers Island permanently with smaller jails that will allow for populations to remain closer to families, community, and legal representation. The jails will be built through the design-build model where the firm provides both design and construction services. For CityLand’s prior coverage of the borough-based jails project, click here. (more…)
Acting Commissioner Tom Foley. Image Credit: NYC DDC.
Foley is a 23-year veteran of the agency. On October 28, 2021, Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed Tom Foley as the Acting Commissioner for the Department of Design and Construction (DDC). The appointment comes as Commissioner Jamie Torres-Springer, who had been appointed in March, prepares to depart on November 12th to become the President of Construction and Development at the MTA. (more…)
Construction workers creating wave patterns in concrete exterior of the floodwall. Image Credit: NYC DDC.
The phased construction of the project ensures there will still be parkspace and waterfront accessible to residents during the duration of the project. On October 6, 2021, the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) announced the completion of 500 feet of floodwall as part of the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project (ESCR). The new floodwall has been installed in the area north of Stuyvesant Cove Park along the East River. The ESCR project is City’s most complex coastal resiliency project so far, which will improve flood protection, waterfront access, parks, playgrounds, and other recreation facilities along the East River between East 25th Street to Montgomery Street. For CityLand’s prior coverage of the ESCR project, click here. (more…)
Interim flood barriers at Red Hook. Image Credit: NYC DDC
The protection measures consist of barriers that are capable to be opened or closed to mitigate the effects of storm surge flooding. On August 3, 2021, the New York City Emergency Management Department and Department of Design and Construction announced the completion of Interim Flood Protection Measures at the Atlantic Basin in Red Hook. The Interim Flood Protection Measures program began in 2016 to protect facilities, infrastructure, and low-lying areas all located in New York City from flooding caused by hurricanes. (more…)
