|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|  |  |  |
New Hope Facility Opens
Project Goals
In 1999 Mercy Medical Center identified the need to find new space for its Men’s Crisis Center located in aging and deteriorating trailers located on Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn. The center houses an Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) program called Operation New Hope, offering individual and group therapy services, as well as temporary lodging to individuals with chemical dependency.
Mercy Medical Center purchased a vacant warehouse and together with OASAS approached the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) to retain an architect to determine the feasibility of converting the warehouse to a new 30-Bed Crisis Center. Hall Partnership Architects, as part of a DASNY term contract, was selected to perform the study.
Design Challenges
Hall Partnership viewed the major design challenges for the adaptive re-use of the warehouse to be three-fold. The first was to turn an essentially closed and lightless building into a hopeful and healing environment for recovering alcoholics and substance abusers. The second was to address internal security issues for a facility of this type, without creating a detention-like atmosphere. Finally, the facility’s design also had to address security concerns for the immediate neighborhood which included a shopping mall across the street.
In addition to the programmatic design challenges, the existing warehouse suffered from neglect. The slab-on-grade, the first floor metal deck and the roof were all in poor condition.
How the Design Team Met the Challenges
At the feasibility stage, the Hall Partnership envisioned an interior village as the design solution. The innovative approach of designing corridors as “streets” was the key to converting the large, open warehouse space into a community of spaces with more of a human scale.
Metal wall and roof panels were used in the interior spaces to create the outdoor village-type environment. Sound transmission from the exterior was reduced through the use of sound batts and laminated window glazing.
Strategic placement of the nurses’ station, with unimpeded views of the various function areas, allowed for constant monitoring of the facilities’ clients and enhanced security. A small, backyard area permits clients to smoke in a secure, controlled location at the rear of the facility, and addresses the security concerns of the neighborhood.
The feasibility phase of the project included a cost estimate which enabled Mercy Medical Center and OASAS to secure funding for the construction of the project. Once funding was secured Hall Partnership participated in a public hearing to answer questions and address neighborhood concerns.
Once the project was approved and funded, Hall Partnership was retained to assemble a full design team to provide a final design documents and construction administration services.
Lighting Design
Bringing light into the formerly dark, windowless warehouse was among the challenges facing the design team. Hall Partnership worked closely with lighting designer Stan Deutsch Associates to use a combination of natural skylights and energy efficient direct and indirect light fixtures to provide a cheerful and attractive lighting scheme to the facility.
Modern Kitchen Design
Hall Partnership worked with kitchen consultant, Tassone Equipment Corp. to provide a modern kitchen and dining experience for the center’s clients. Stainless steel appliances and fixtures provide a fresh, contemporary look.
Construction
Major construction tasks included abatement of ACM and total gutting of the building. Refurbishment of the exterior envelope included a new roofing system and metal deck as well as total replacement of the first floor slab-on-grade. Primary materials used were brick, aluminum wall and roof panels, drywall, acoustical ceilings, vc flooring, carpet, ceramic tile and metal and aluminum doors, windows and entrances.
Summary
The resulting 30-Bed Men’s Crisis Center is a resounding success. Upon completion, the center’s director, James Morse said: “It has taken 8 years, but at last we have a facility that is truly a place of hope. Hall Partnership understood our needs and has created an environment that is conducive to healing.”
In 1999 Mercy Medical Center identified the need to find new space for its Men’s Crisis Center located in aging and deteriorating trailers located on Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn. The center houses an Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) program called Operation New Hope, offering individual and group therapy services, as well as temporary lodging to individuals with chemical dependency.
Mercy Medical Center purchased a vacant warehouse and together with OASAS approached the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) to retain an architect to determine the feasibility of converting the warehouse to a new 30-Bed Crisis Center. Hall Partnership Architects, as part of a DASNY term contract, was selected to perform the study.
Design Challenges
Hall Partnership viewed the major design challenges for the adaptive re-use of the warehouse to be three-fold. The first was to turn an essentially closed and lightless building into a hopeful and healing environment for recovering alcoholics and substance abusers. The second was to address internal security issues for a facility of this type, without creating a detention-like atmosphere. Finally, the facility’s design also had to address security concerns for the immediate neighborhood which included a shopping mall across the street.
In addition to the programmatic design challenges, the existing warehouse suffered from neglect. The slab-on-grade, the first floor metal deck and the roof were all in poor condition.
How the Design Team Met the Challenges
At the feasibility stage, the Hall Partnership envisioned an interior village as the design solution. The innovative approach of designing corridors as “streets” was the key to converting the large, open warehouse space into a community of spaces with more of a human scale.
Metal wall and roof panels were used in the interior spaces to create the outdoor village-type environment. Sound transmission from the exterior was reduced through the use of sound batts and laminated window glazing.
Strategic placement of the nurses’ station, with unimpeded views of the various function areas, allowed for constant monitoring of the facilities’ clients and enhanced security. A small, backyard area permits clients to smoke in a secure, controlled location at the rear of the facility, and addresses the security concerns of the neighborhood.
The feasibility phase of the project included a cost estimate which enabled Mercy Medical Center and OASAS to secure funding for the construction of the project. Once funding was secured Hall Partnership participated in a public hearing to answer questions and address neighborhood concerns.
Once the project was approved and funded, Hall Partnership was retained to assemble a full design team to provide a final design documents and construction administration services.
Lighting Design
Bringing light into the formerly dark, windowless warehouse was among the challenges facing the design team. Hall Partnership worked closely with lighting designer Stan Deutsch Associates to use a combination of natural skylights and energy efficient direct and indirect light fixtures to provide a cheerful and attractive lighting scheme to the facility.
Modern Kitchen Design
Hall Partnership worked with kitchen consultant, Tassone Equipment Corp. to provide a modern kitchen and dining experience for the center’s clients. Stainless steel appliances and fixtures provide a fresh, contemporary look.
Construction
Major construction tasks included abatement of ACM and total gutting of the building. Refurbishment of the exterior envelope included a new roofing system and metal deck as well as total replacement of the first floor slab-on-grade. Primary materials used were brick, aluminum wall and roof panels, drywall, acoustical ceilings, vc flooring, carpet, ceramic tile and metal and aluminum doors, windows and entrances.
Summary
The resulting 30-Bed Men’s Crisis Center is a resounding success. Upon completion, the center’s director, James Morse said: “It has taken 8 years, but at last we have a facility that is truly a place of hope. Hall Partnership understood our needs and has created an environment that is conducive to healing.”