Several award-winning GMS projects are being spotlighted this year on Archtober’s “Building of the Day” tours, including Stapleton Library, Tavern on the Green and Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at JFK.
Archtober is New York City’s Architecture and Design Month, the fourth annual month-long festival of architecture activities, programs and exhibitions taking place during the month of October. Archtober presents special tours, lectures, films and exhibitions that focus on the importance of architecture and design in everyday life. The many participating organizations aim to raise awareness of the important role of design in our city and to build a lasting civic and international recognition of the richness of New York’s built environment. The “Building of the Day” series celebrates contemporary as well as iconic architecture in New York City with daily on-site tours, led by the architect.
Learn more about Archtober at www.archtober.org
Stapleton Library
October 4th, 2014, 12:00 PM
The New York Public Library commissioned this addition to the branch library for Stapleton, Staten Island. The existing 1907 Carrere and Hastings Carnegie Library was renovated with a new 8,000 square foot building located alongside. It is designed to be an open, accessible, and intimate building. Completed in June 2013, the renovated $10-million facility is a seamless assembly of the new and old. The new single-story structure features 18′ ceilings and is constructed of glue laminated Douglas fir posts, beams and joists. The framed structure is exposed. The library’s sloped roof parallels the incline of the grade.
Architect: Andrew Berman Architect
Sportime Randall’s Island
October 5th, 2014, 12:00 PM
The Sportime/John McEnroe Tennis Academy is the largest public tennis facility built in New York City in half a century. The project is a key component of the redevelopment of Randall’s Island into a city-wide destination for sports and active recreation. Earlier this year, GMS provided several schematic alternatives for a new field house within the proposed expansion of the Sportime Tennis Center.
Architect: Ricardo Zurita Architecture & Planning
Tavern on the Green
October 6th, 2014, 10:00 AM
GMS served as the structural engineer for interior renovation of the recently restored NYC Landmark. We provided renovations to accommodate the restaurant, kitchen and bar as well as exterior amenities. An entry garden with a brick-and-granite bar terrace reflects the restored circular façade of the building. The Bar Room, dominated by a large, oval, dark mahogany bar with a semi-circular, red, high-backed banquette accommodates 150. The Central Park Room is atrium-inspired, with off-white leather tables, ivory-stained wood chairs, and sun-patterned banquettes. The room accommodates 140 and looks out onto the 300-seat courtyard with a view of Central Park West.
Restaurant Architect: Richard H. Lewis Architect
Core & Shell Architect: Swanke Hayden Connell Architects
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at JFK
October 7th, 2014, 1:30 PM
The Virgin Atlantic lounge is a modern take on 1960’s air travel. It incorporates a sinuous fin wall, intricate ceiling, and several raised platforms to divide the space into varying zones based on acoustic level and length of stay. GMS provided structural engineering design for the interior features and the support structures for new mechanical systems.
Architect: Slade Architecture
Winter Garden at World Financial Center
October 12th, 2014, 12:00 PM
After the 9/11 terrorist attack, the GMS building envelope team took on the restoration of the iconic 10-story glass-vaulted Winter Garden pavilion. This included the replacement of all glass and rebuilding of large portions of the steel frame. While GMS was not involved in Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects’ Pavilion at Brookfield Place, the primary focus of this tour, these atria together reconnect the World Trade Center, World Financial Center and Battery Park. There will be a brief walk from the Pavilion into the Concourse, 50 feet below the ground level, and then to the Winter Garden’s mezzanine overlook.