Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center

Mind-Builders is a cultural institution in the Bronx that provides a range of programs and classes in the performing arts for children and adults of all ages. This project consists of a gut renovation of the 12,000 sf, 4 story building to provide dance studios, performance spaces, music rooms, classrooms, and offices. Most of the instruction spaces are designed as multi-functional to allow flexibility in the scheduling and types of classes offered. All new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, a new elevator, and egress stairs are included in the renovation. The design and documentation was done entirely with BIM technology. The project achieved a LEED Silver rating.

Connecticut Science Center

Vidaris professionals provided sustainable design consulting services for the new Connecticut Center for Science and Exploration (CTCSE) in Hartford, CT. The facility includes exhibit space for a science museum, staff office, cafeteria, commercial retail and food service establishments, an IMAX, and a multi-level parking garage.

Sustainable features of the Connecticut Science Center included water use reduction of over 40% and elimination of any ground or roof planting irrigation needs. Indoor air quality was improved through increased ventilation and CO2 monitoring, the use of low-emitting paints, adhesives, sealants, carpets and composite wood products, and the emphasis of construction indoor air quality management during construction, green housekeeping and integrated pest management plans.

The design also includes energy efficiency strategies such as: underfloor air distribution for the Exhibit areas; air side energy recovery systems, heat recovery from steam condensate for preheating domestic hot water, daylight dimming systems in the offices and function room, and occupancy sensors in offices, conference rooms and restrooms.

Awards: GE Award of Merit; IES Illumination Award of Merit

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center

The Jacob Javits Convention Center is an existing building in New York City that has recently completed a major renovation. No new area was added to the 1,700,000 sf building, but major HVAC systems were updated and the curtainwall and roof were replaced. The project team included FXFOWLE Architects, WSP Flack + Kurtz Engineers, and Tishman Construction. From its original completion in 1986, the building had always been known to have roof and facade leaks. As part of the expansion redesign, the design team took these enclosure problems into consideration when specifying the roofing system as well as the connection to the new curtain wall assembly. Renovations to the main building include the replacement of the roof, curtain wall, skylights, enlargement and reconfiguration of the main entrance along with replacement and upgrades of building systems. Its 6-acre green roof is the largest in New York City and the second largest in the Northeast. Vidaris provided peer review to Tishman Construction for the design of the roofing details and inspected the installation of the roofing and waterproofing systems. The full retrofit of the existing roof was challenging due to its sheer size of 6 acres. At the start of construction, Vidaris attended multiple performance mock-ups for the different roofing and flashing conditions. Vidaris witnessed the installations and the testing of all roofing mock-ups for the project. The gutter systems at the Crystal Palace and River Pavilion roofs were challenging to design and install due to accessibility around skylights. Vidaris performed modeling of the building in collaboration with Flack + Kurtz, and performed the LEED Fundamental and Enhanced Commissioning. Vidaris also provided green services toward the LEED NC certification.

Darien Library

The Darien Public Library features a community room, cafe, children's library, technology learning center, teen center, and smart study rooms in addition to traditional library space. Sustainable design elements include a geothermal heating system, a biofiltration swale for storm water, enhanced indoor air quality, and sustainable materials. Vidaris provided LEED consulting services and commissioning of the MEP systems.

Brooklyn Botanical Garden Visitor Center

The Brooklyn Botanical Garden has made sustainable development a primary objective of their new Visitor Center. The design draws visitors into the landscape, minimizes the building’s impact on the site and creates healthy work environments for BBG employees. Weiss/Manfredi was contracted to lead this expansion with JBB as the MEP engineer, and with Vidaris providing energy modeling, LEED/green consulting and Enhanced MEP commissioning services.

Vidaris assisted the project team in pursuing a number of sustainability measures including a 4” green roof system which reduces storm water runoff and the urban heat island effect, capturing and infiltrating 100% of the site storm water, reducing the potable annual water consumption by more than 35% through selection of low-flow fixtures and protecting indoor air quality through specification of low-emitting materials.

Energy conserving strategies included utilizing envelope and high performance glazing assemblies, bermed-earth construction at building’s north side, high performance Ground Source Heat Pumps, and CO₂ sensors with demand control ventilation.

Awards:

2013 American Architecture Award

2013 International Architecture Award

American Museum of Natural History - Rose Center Planetarium

Vidaris professionals modeled the glass box that encloses the planetarium sphere using the computational fluid dynamics software CFD-2000 and the energy efficiency software DOE-2.1. The models helped design the air delivery system, so that traffic areas remain air-conditioned while the temperatures in the unoccupied portion of the space are allowed to float. The work, in support of Polshek Architects (currently Ennead) and Altieri Sebor Wieber MEP, was performed when Vidaris professionals were the Energy/Green/Commissioning group of another company.

McCormick Place Convention Center West Expansion *

Vidaris professionals performed energy and LEED analyses for this major expansion of the convention center. Project features included energy efficiency measures that achieve 26% energy cost savings (vs. the referenced ASHRAE standard), 3.5 acres of vegetated roofing, and a dedicated stormwater collection and tunnel system that transports clean runoff from the site directly to Lake Michigan. The work was started when Vidaris professionals were part of another company. The project team included A. Epstein & Sons International as architects and engineers.

Bronx Library Center *

Under a FlexTech contract with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Vidaris professionals analyzed the energy use of the proposed Bronx Library Center, a 74,000 sq. ft., six-story structure located in Bronx, NY. Vidaris also performed daylighting analyses of the east-facing, fully-glazed façade.

Ultimately, Vidaris was engaged by the NYPL directly to provide Design and Construction Phase commissioning to address LEED Fundamental and Additional Commissioning for the project.

Yankee Stadium

Reminiscent of original 1923 “House that Ruth Built”, the new Yankee Stadium in the Bronx opened to the public on April 2, 2009. With a seating capacity of 52,325 including standing room, wider isles, expanded legroom, and 56 luxury suites, the stadium now provides all the amenities fans expect of a modern ballparks. As building envelope consultants, Vidaris worked hand-in-hand with the Architects and ownership to establish suitable performance criteria, review bidders proposals and once awarded, review trade contractor’s shop drawings and submittals. Vidaris witnessed testing of the curtain wall both in the shop and on-site. Vidaris performed the controlled inspection that included shop monitoring and site inspection. The outfacing façade of the stadium is comprised of architectural precast concrete panels with an Indiana limestone or granite veneer, glazed unitized curtainwall and metal rainscreen panels. Within the stadium bowl, Vidaris inspected the suites’ glass and glazing, as well as the point-supported glass in the center field restaurant. In order to construct the necessary parking structure for the Stadium, the agreement with New York City was to build an elevated community park on top of the parking structure. Vidaris performed roofing and waterproofing services for this green roof adjacent to the stadium. Vidaris assisted in the development of project drawings, details and specification performance criteria and monitored the field work for compliance.

Orange County Performing Arts Center (aka Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall )

As exterior wall consultants, Vidaris worked closely with Pelli Clarke Pelli on the mullion-free curved glass facade, ensuring that the design intent came to fruition. The facade is comprised of low-iron glass suspended as a curtainwall system with vertical tension rods. Vidaris witnessed the performance mock-up and monitored both the shop fabrication of the exterior wall and the on-site installation for compliance with approved drawings and specifications.