NYC Technical College - Voorhess Building Renovation - by Der scutt

[BrooklynRider]

This project is going to completely transform the Manhattan Bridge end of end of Jay Street. Renderings in link.


New York City College of Technology—CUNY Brooklyn, New York

The brick cladding of the existing Voorhees building, in extremely poor condition and suffering from façade stability problems, needed to be completely removed. CUNY, in collaboration with the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York mandated that in addition to a new curtainwall, interior design renovations would include classroom enhancement, new lobby, and other building upgrades totaling $21 million.

The distinctive architectural curtainwall incorporates low-E energy-efficient glazing, and shadow boxes to add shade and visual interest in a grid that emphasizes the technology of the curtain wall. Window openings, which had been blocked off in a prior renovation, are to be re-opened to bring natural light to classrooms, offices, and laboratories. A trellis screen following the curtainwall motif unifies the uneven penthouse elevations and will be lighted at night. A fritted, freestanding glass-and-aluminum screen entry provides a visual reference point and serves as an identification beacon for the college. The low-rise building will be re-clad with a ventilated rain screen tile façade providing superior building envelope protection and additional energy savings. The design projects a new image of high technology and enhances the credibility of NYCCT’s long history as a superior technical college.

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2008, with completion estimated for 2010.

(Existing Building)

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd121/BrooklynRiderRob/th_existing_building_voorhees_jayst.jpg (http://s220.photobucket.com/albums/dd121/BrooklynRiderRob/?action=view&current=existing_building_voorhees_jayst.jpg)

(Reclad/Renovation)

1.
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd121/BrooklynRiderRob/th_Voorhees_Hall_Jay_St_to_NW_day.jpg (http://s220.photobucket.com/albums/dd121/BrooklynRiderRob/?action=view&current=Voorhees_Hall_Jay_St_to_NW_day.jpg)

2.
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd121/BrooklynRiderRob/th_Voorhees_Hall_Jay_St_to_NW.jpg (http://s220.photobucket.com/albums/dd121/BrooklynRiderRob/?action=view&current=Voorhees_Hall_Jay_St_to_NW.jpg)

3.
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd121/BrooklynRiderRob/th_Voorhees_Hall_entrance.jpg (http://s220.photobucket.com/albums/dd121/BrooklynRiderRob/?action=view&current=Voorhees_Hall_entrance.jpg)

4.
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd121/BrooklynRiderRob/th_Voorhees_Hall_NE_corner.jpg (http://s220.photobucket.com/albums/dd121/BrooklynRiderRob/?action=view&current=Voorhees_Hall_NE_corner.jpg)

5.
http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd121/BrooklynRiderRob/th_Voorhees_Hall_corner_detail.jpg (http://s220.photobucket.com/albums/dd121/BrooklynRiderRob/?action=view&current=Voorhees_Hall_corner_detail.jpg)

[BrooklynLove]

Fabulous. These plans exceed any hopes I had for this space, this is great news.

Re Oro - the lighting has been on for a while now - soft white, looks nice. On a related note, I recently had a brief chat with a Hilton rep who said the neighboring Oro 2 is still a go with work slated to start later this year.

[lofter1]

Here's the direct LINK (http://www.derscutt.com/index.php/projects/detail/new_york_city_college_of_technology_cuny_voorhees_ hall/) to he article on Voorhees Hall.

[bklynite]

horrific, despicable, a terrible waste. that street wall is the worst architecture imaginable. does nothing for the area. why the obsession with defensible space under an all-glass building?

[BrooklynLove]

Are you being serious? This is a CUNY building. I think that we're making out pretty well here all things considered.

[BrooklynRider]

horrific, despicable, a terrible waste. that street wall is the worst architecture imaginable. does nothing for the area. why the obsession with defensible space under an all-glass building?

This leads to an assumption that you've never seen the existing building.

Der Scutt is one of the most talented designers for recladding and renovations. There is no reason - none - to imagine that this will be anything but an improvement. Research his work.

[bklynite]

ah -- i did not realize this was a recladding, duh. makes 100% more sense now. i couldn't believe they wouldn't have street level uses, along the lines of columbia's new campus renderings.

[BrooklynRider]

I agree with you on the street level criticisms. I think the glass and the evening lights will create a street that will be perceived as more inviting. It would seem that it would be appealing to have some sort of street level stores at the Brooklyn entrance to the Manhattan Bridge walkway. Plus, I imagine college students would use it. This is one place that I wouldn't mind a Starbucks.

[BrooklynLove]

Part of the problem here is the isolation of the sidewalk that leads to the entrance - the island nature of it. The off ramp is the major culprit over there.

[BrooklynRider]

Get a shake shack up on that ramp park.

[BrooklynLove]

Sign me up.

[bklynite]

word.

[Merry]

Exterior Transformation Underway at CUNY Building

by Emily

http://cdn.brownstoner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/186-jay-street-now-and-later.jpg (http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2012/01/exterior-transformation-underway-at-jay-st-cuny-building/?stream=true#)

CUNY’s Voorhees Hall, at 186 Jay Street in Downtown Brooklyn, has been under renovation for a couple of years now, but recently signs went up announcing that the facade is being re-clad.

The building, which used to be clad in brick, will soon be much glassier. The architect on the project, Der Scutt Architects, notes the following about 186 Jay’s new look: “The distinctive architectural curtainwall incorporates low-E energy-efficient glazing, and shadow boxes to add shade and visual interest in a grid that emphasizes the technology of the curtain wall. Window openings, which had been blocked off in a prior renovation, are to be re-opened to bring natural light to classrooms, offices, and laboratories. A trellis screen following the curtainwall motif unifies the uneven penthouse elevations and will be lighted at night.” The $30 million renovation also covers classroom enhancements, a new lobby and other building upgrades. Construction began way in the spring of 2010, and work is supposed to wrap this spring.

http://cdn.brownstoner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/voorhees-hall-rendering1.jpg (http://cdn.brownstoner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/voorhees-hall-rendering1.jpg)

http://cdn.brownstoner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/voorhees-hall-rendering2.jpg (http://cdn.brownstoner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/voorhees-hall-rendering2.jpg)

http://cdn.brownstoner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/voorhees-hall-rendering3.jpg (http://cdn.brownstoner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/voorhees-hall-rendering3.jpg)

http://cdn.brownstoner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/voorhees-hall-old.jpg (http://cdn.brownstoner.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/voorhees-hall-old.jpg)
The building in its original state.

All images via Der Scutt Architect (http://www.derscutt.com/index.php/projects/detail/new_york_city_college_of_technology_cuny_voorhees_ hall/)

http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2012/01/exterior-transformation-underway-at-jay-st-cuny-building/?stream=true