In an attempt to decorate the thousands of temporary protective structures that surround construction sites across the city, the New York City Department of Buildings is launching a design competition that invites artists and designers to use these structures as a way to display their art. Supported by a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation to the Mayor’s Fund, Urbancanvas asks participants to create designs for fences, sheds, and other support and safety structures such as scaffolds and cocoon systems. Under a DOB pilot program, members of the building and construction community will select the winning designs to feature on a
The first witnesses in the trial of William Rapetti, the master rigger of a 200-ft-high tower crane that had a deadly collapsed off a rising Manhattan condo in 2008, were a firefighter and a man he found “buried alive” in the rubble. Related Links: Trial Begins For Rigger in Deadly 2008 Crane Collapse Supervisor May Have Been Off-Site At Time of Crane Collapse Faulty Sling Argument Takes a Hit in Rigger�s Manslaughter Trial Doomed Crane Had History of Malfunctions Prosecutors Contest Own Witness in Crane Collapse Case Prosecutors accuse Rapetti of causing the accident that killed seven and brought both
The attorney for the embattled crane rigger accused of causing the deadly 2008 crane collapse in Midtown Manhattan said that “incompetence at the highest levels of city government” killed seven in the tragedy, rather than the “recklessness” prosecutors alleged against his client. Photo: AP/Louis Lanzano Crane rigger William Rapetti faces 27 years in prison. Related Links: Victim �Buried Alive� in 2008 Crane Collapse Testifies in Manslaughter Trial for Crane Rigger Supervisor May Have Been Off-Site At Time of Crane Collapse Faulty Sling Argument Takes a Hit in Rigger�s Manslaughter Trial Doomed Crane Had History of Malfunctions Prosecutors Contest Own Witness
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey authorized a $199 million project for structural steel repairs on the upper level of the George Washington Bridge. The Port Authority board is currently seeking bids for the project with work expected to begin in 2011. Natural degradation brought on by age, as well as increased truck traffic on the upper level after the 9/11 attacks has resulted in accelerated deterioration of the deck and framing components. Inspections as recent as 2009, have revealed several locations with varying degrees of corrosion and cracking, missing or loose structural steel connectors. In February
Contractors For Kids Raises Money for Child Illness June 2010 Contractors for Kids, the largest Long Island charity supported by the construction, architecture, and real estate community raised $140,000 at a dinner dance reception to support local families affected by serious child illness. Pictured from left: Michael Costa, Partner at Armao, Costa & Ricciardi CPAs PC and CFK Board Member; Kevin G. Hamey, Principal of Stalco Construction and Chairman of CFK Executive Board; Frank Strcich, Principal of Omni Risk Management and CFK Board Member; Steve Levy, Suffolk County Executive; Natalie Weinstein, radio talk show host and President of Natalie Weinstein
The Thornton Tomasetti Foundation, a nonprofit organization established by New York-based Thornton Tomasetti, a structural engineering firm has awarded a $9,000 grant to the California Polytechnic State University chapter of Engineers Without Borders for the construction of a $68,000 healthcare clinic in Camilo Ortega, Nicaragua. Cal Poly students will lead the design and construction of the new healthcare facility. Photo courtesy of Engineers Without Borders-Cal Poly Chapter The Thornton Tomasetti Foundation which was first established in 2008 provides funding for fellowships, scholarships and internships for undergraduate students and those planning to pursue graduate studies in building engineering, design or technology.
One World Trade Center has reached a construction milestone by rising 260 ft above street level. Upon its completion in 2013, it will become the tallest office building in the United States reaching 104 stories. Photo courtesy of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Currently standing at the 26th floor level, the 1,776-ft-tall office building is being designed by David Childs of Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings and Merrill and developed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and is scheduled to reach a height of 50 stories by the end of 2010. To date, more
As part of a $550 million capital improvement plan at the Empire State Building, renovation on the building’s observatory has begun with Aragon Construction of New York acting as General Contractor for the project, which began in late May. Along with JCJ Architecture of Hartford, Conn., Aragon is revamping the 86th floor observatory with completion scheduled for September 2010. Refurbishment of the 950-sq-ft observatory deck will include both interior and exterior alterations such as the renovation of the granite flooring, the stone wainscoting wall surrounding the inner deck, and two, four-tier staircases. Aragon is also replacing the current glass work
THOMAS The American Institute of Architects granted honorary membership to Dr. Gail Thomas, president and CEO of The Trinity Trust Foundation in Dallas. It is one of the highest honors the AIA bestows on a person outside the profession of architecture. Thomas’ efforts to improve cities and her support of the arts and architecture were keys to her election. LEO A DALY in Dallas named John Kraskiewicz its new COO. He is also a vice president of the firm. Kraskiewicz holds a bachelor’s of architecture, a master’s of architecture and a master’s of business administration with a specialization in real
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