For the people of Deer Park, Long Island and its surrounding areas, the construction of the Arches during this tough economic period gives them a reason to be at least cautiously optimistic.
Designed to emulate a European-themed shopping village with covered walkways, an outdoor ice skating rink and water fountains, the $180 million open air center is expected to generate millions of dollars in tax revenue, which will help alleviate the burden on the town’s residents. It has also generated hundreds of jobs, both full and part time, for local residents.
The largest outlet center of its kind on Long Island, The Arches sits on 82 acres and contains 805,000 sq ft of retail space, including a 16 screen movie theater.
Construction began in November 2006 and was completed in October 2008.
In order to meet the schedule, the project team knew that they were going to have to work through the winter and in an effort to save time, money, and enable winter work, Aurora Contractors, Inc. recommended that the buildings be constructed as panelized facades which would allow the building finishes to be applied in a controlled environment, as opposed to having to use temporary heat to apply finishes in cold weather.
The Arches at Deer Park is the first project in the town of Babylon to be built to LEED specifications. The project team is currently in the final stages of obtaining LEED certified status and has already won the Long Island Business Real Estate Award for green development.
Situated at the geographic heart of Long Island on Commack Road and Grand Boulevard in Deer Park, Long Island, the Arches required tremendous effort to be put into the design of this project. All of the 17 buildings incorporate precise architectural details and unique color schemes and designs from checkerboard to stripes, up to 10 colors per building. Every building features stone columns, intricate moldings, archways, Venetian plaster, and clay tile roofs with balusters and railings and all of the buildings are connected with hardscape and set on landscaped sidewalks and courtyards sprinkled with fountains, benches, and color kinetics lighting as part of the several covered walkways.
“It is very unique looking for New York,” claimed one of the judges on the panel while deciding on a final vote.
A team of seven superintendents, four project managers, and three administrators as well as a full time safety officer were put together to oversee construction and ensure that all work was being performed safely and adhered to OSHA standards.
Key Players
Construction Manager: Aurora Contractors, Inc., Ronkonkoma, NY
Owner: Blumenfeld Development Group, Syosset, NY
Architect: Adams & Associates Architecture, Mooresville, NC
Structural Engineer: Structures Inc., Mooresville, NC
Civil Engineer: RMS Engineering, PC, Huntington, NY
MEP Engineer: Optima Engineering P.A., Charlotte, NC
Electrician: B&G Electrical Contractors, Inc., North Amityville, NY
Carpentry: Island Acoustics LLC, Bohemia, NY
Plumbing: Just Plumbing Corp., Ronkonkoma, NY
Structural Steel: Canatal Industries, Inc., Thetford Mines, QC
Concrete/Hardscape: Ruttura & Sons, West Babylon, NY
Fire Protection: Abco Peerless Sprinkler Corp., Hicksville, NY
