Project Brief

The New York City Housing Authority renovated the community center in the basement of Building 5 at Astoria Houses, adding a 721 SF science lab, a new ADA restroom, and accessible upgrades to the existing boys' and girls' restrooms. KeRi was the MEP and fire alarm engineer, taking the design through NYCHA's 50, 75, 90 and 100 percent reviews, Department of Buildings and FDNY filings, the bid set and its addendum.

New water closets, urinals, lavatories and lab sinks tie into the existing hot water, cold water and sanitary risers in the crawl space below, with new vent piping above the ceiling and piping kept in furred walls. The lab received power for its interactive display and teaching island, GFCI and tamper-resistant receptacles, and a hand dryer circuit for the ADA restroom, fed from spare breakers in the existing panels. New LED lighting with occupancy sensors and battery-backed emergency fixtures reuses the existing circuits, and new fire alarm devices were synchronized with the building's existing fire alarm control panel, with energy code compliance documented for the renovated spaces.

MEP Engineering Scope

What We Engineered

Plumbing, electrical and fire alarm for the community center renovation:

• New 721 SF science lab with lab sinks and power for an interactive teaching display
• New ADA restroom and accessible upgrades to the boys' and girls' restrooms
• Fixtures tied into existing risers in the crawl space below
• LED lighting with occupancy sensors and 90-minute emergency battery backup
• New fire alarm devices synchronized with the existing control panel
• NYCHA design reviews, DOB and FDNY filings, and energy code compliance

The Challenge

A basement community center had to gain a science lab and accessible restrooms using the existing risers, panels and fire alarm system of an occupied public housing building.

Our Solution

KeRi connected the new fixtures to the existing risers below the floor, fed new loads from spare breakers, and extended the existing fire alarm system, carrying the work through NYCHA, DOB and FDNY review.