The Interplay between the Amended RPAPL 881 and
The NYC Building Code

On December 5, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul signed major amendments to the New York Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law (RPAPL) § 881, which governs access to adjoining properties during construction. In contrast to its brief predecessor, the revised statute explicitly enumerates specific construction installations and cross-references construction codes and regulations. Consequently, understanding and properly applying the new law requires significant engineering insight. The following analysis examines the modified text to offer practical engineering clarifications to legal practitioners navigating these disputes.

GMS provided structural engineering for the new three-story field house located west of the existing football field and overlooking the adjacent soccer and lacrosse field. The fieldhouse includes several strategies to reduce its carbon footprint and conserve water and energy and was built for $26M. The field house totals approximately 45,000 sf and opened in the Fall of 2025.

When people think of New York City, they think of the bright lights, the larger-than-life skyscrapers, the diverse cultures, the endless activities, and landmarks that attract millions of tourists worldwide each year. As a cultural epicenter, the Big Apple has plenty to offer. It is, of course, also home to many of the flagship locations of some of the most famous and recognizable brands in the world, namely on Fifth Avenue. Fifth Avenue has a longstanding history spanning as far back as the 19^th century, with iconic brands such as Gucci, Armani, Nike, Prada, Versace, and Louis Vuitton establishing their own retail stores along the well-known avenue. We are proud to say that GMS has extensive experience when it comes designing structures to support and help realize the visions of these unique shopping environments. Nationwide, we have been involved in retail projects from new, ground-up constructions to renovations. We work with a wide variety of materials to solve unique challenges that may arise. The GMS team are experts at analyzing complex geometries of architectural amenities, unique storefront systems, canopies, and stairs.

Two GMS projects were recognized by the ACEC New York 2026 Engineering Excellence Awards:

50 Ninth Avenue – A renovation and adaptive reuse of multiple landmarked townhouses in the Meatpacking District. This project not only respects the past but also shapes the future of adaptive reuse in New York City and beyond.

25 Water Street – An office-to-residential conversion in Lower Manhattan, one of the largest of its kind in the city. The success of the project is a testament to the bright future of the adaptive reuse of large office buildings nationwide.

At Gilsanz Murray Steficek, we believe that building stronger communities goes beyond the structures we design. This Giving Tuesday, we’re proud to support organizations that advance equity, resilience, and opportunity across a range of fields — from healthcare and education to the built environment.

GMS provides a comprehensive range of inspection services for structures and building envelopes, including special inspections, garage, façade, retaining wall, tunnel, pedestrian bridge assessments, and parapet testing. We have ICC certified special inspectors, NYC Qualified Parking Structure Inspectors (QPSI), Qualified Exterior Wall Inspectors (QEWI), Qualified Retaining Wall Inspectors (QRWI), qualified parapet inspectors, and nationally certified tunnel inspectors. Our qualified staff deliver clear evaluations, code compliance support, and repair design services to ensure safety and performance.

To learn more about GMS inspection services, email us at info@gmsllp.com or call (212) 254-0030.

GMS served as the structural engineer for two SKIMS flagship projects in New York City and Los Angeles, supporting the brand’s expansion into iconic retail destinations on both coasts.

GMS is excited to announce our latest staff promotions. Each of these individuals is a valuable member of the GMS team, and we wish them continued success in their careers.

The National Council of Structural Engineers Associations Structural Engineering Summit: Bright Ideas in the Big Apple is coming to New York City on October 14 – 17, 2025! The Summit is the annual conference for Structural Engineers from across the country and GMSers will present three panels.

This past year, construction was completed at One High Line in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. The 900,000 sf mixed-use development consists of two towers, standing at 38-stories and 28-stories respectively, with a total of 236 condominium units. Each structure sits on top of a five-story podium building at 76 Eleventh Avenue on a trapezoid-shaped plot of land. The towers house approximately 18,000 sf of amenity spaces, including retail, additional residences, and back-of-house support spaces. There is also a planned hotel feature that will be managed by Faena Hotel and will open in the near future.