Introduction

In cities like Manhattan, where urban development and water bodies converge, floodproofing of structures is not just a regulatory requirement but a crucial aspect of building design. The coastal geography of New York City is considered highly vulnerable to flooding from extreme weather conditions. As we witness climate change and sea level rise, we anticipate flood risks to increase.

In a recent AIA NY presentation on flood and hurricane mitigation, a panel of experts, including building envelope consultants, a structural engineer, and an architect, shared their insights on addressing the challenges posed by extreme weather events in New York City. The discussion covered Flood Zone and Wind-Borne Debris Region designations, relevant building codes, and real-world applications, highlighting critical construction details from ongoing projects.

In this article, we will focus on Daniel Kinsley’s portion of the presentation, where he shared his expertise on flood mitigation for building envelopes. A future article will summarize Jessica Mandrick’s structural engineering perspective. GMS has completed several projects that showcase innovative floodproofing strategies to enhance building resilience and safety.

The March issue of Structure Magazine features an article by GMS Principal Forensic Engineer Dan Eschenasy entitled “Underlying Causes of Exterior Sign Accidents.”

On June 21, 2022, Ramon Gilsanz presented the differences between the seismic portions of the 2014 New York City Building Code and the latest released Code as part of SEAoNY’s Code Update Training Series. The course showcases the different design factors, calculations, classifications, systems, and inspections required depending on the structural makeup of the building.

This study, authored by Ramon Gilsanz, Daniel Gleave, Andrew Dolan, and Sarah Ropert of GMS and Erica C. Fischer of Oregon State University, examines the feasibility of a new concealed connection for steel gravity framing that has been shown to protect connection components from the increasing temperatures and subsequent thermal degradation that occur during a fire.

The February 2022 Architectural Design features Casa Loro, a large Panama Estate for which the GMS team – including Phil Murray, Jessica Mandrick, and Ana Gallego – provided structural engineering services. The completed estate includes a three-bedroom main house, four guest cabins, a pool house, and a separate spa building totaling approximately 16,000 sf.

This article discusses the technologies used to allow flat-plate concrete floor systems to achieve longer spans in the 45-50 foot range. The combination of higher-strength materials, voided slab formers, and post-tensioned systems provide an economic and environmentally friendly solution for Class A office building construction.

The competing factors governing structural design and dimensioning of reinforced concrete slabs create opportunities for optimizing the cost and performance of reinforced concrete flat-plate slabs. Using a slab prototype from an existing building, this study compares designs using different strengths of reinforcing bars and concrete.

At the Woolworth Building, the 1913 skyscraper designed by architect Cass Gilbert, which was the tallest in the world until 1930, Alchemy Properties is in the process of converting the top 30 floors into 33 condos priced from $3.875 million.

What to do with a building and a city block with no designated historic significance but, for lack of a better term, landmark adjacency? This was the challenge for Morris Adjmi and his team when they set out to design a boutique luxury condominium building for Toll Brothers at 55 West 17th Street.