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  • UNITED NATIONS PERMANENT MEMORIAL

    ARK OF RETURN Permanent Memorial at the United Nations in Honor of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade Rodney Leon won an international UNESCO design competition to erect a memorial to commemorate victims of the Atlantic slave trade. Here’s how the designer talks about the process: ”The Ark of Return” memorial is a sacred space that is designed to psychologically and spiritually transport visitors to a place where acknowledgement, education, reflection and healing can take place. The memorial’s exterior form is constructed in a fashion to reflect the image of a vessel or ship in acknowledgement of the millions of African people transported on slave ships to different parts of the world during the “Middle Passage.” Images of maps depicting the “Triangular Slave Trade” influenced the use of the triangle as a primary element in designing the memorial’s shape. The memorial is conceptually also organized in three parts and visitors are meant to pass through “The Ark of Return” to intimately experience three primary elements on the interior space. The first element is a three dimensional map inscribed on the interior of the memorial. This map highlights the African continent at its center and graphically depicts the global scale, complexity and impact of the triangular slave trade in “acknowledgement of the tragedy.” The second element is full-scale human figure lying horizontally in front of a wall inscribed with images of the interior of a slave ship. This is meant to communicate and educate visitors on the physical conditions endured by the millions of African people transported under extreme conditions during the middle passage. The visitors are provided the opportunity to seriously “consider the legacy” of slavery’s impact upon humanity. The third element is a triangular reflecting pool, which introduces water in a meditative, ritualistic and spiritual manner. Visitors are invited to pour libations or say a prayer in memory of the millions of souls that were lost “lest we forget” this monumental and historic tragedy. Altera Engineering were invited to advice the design team at the concept stage. The firm’s engineers were tasked with collaborating with the contractor for the General Assembly renovation in locating and bringing power and water to the sculpture of the Ark. Home / Cultural UNITED NATIONS PERMANENT MEMORIAL ARCHITECT . Rodney Leon Architects PROJECT SIZE PROJECT COST SCOPE . Full MEP design and construction administration services. Plumbing and electrical power, construction administration Go Go ARK OF RETURN Permanent Memorial at the United Nations in Honor of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade Rodney Leon won an international UNESCO design competition to erect a memorial to commemorate victims of the Atlantic slave trade. Here’s how the designer talks about the process: ”The Ark of Return” memorial is a sacred space that is designed to psychologically and spiritually transport visitors to a place where acknowledgement, education, reflection and healing can take place. The memorial’s exterior form is constructed in a fashion to reflect the image of a vessel or ship in acknowledgement of the millions of African people transported on slave ships to different parts of the world during the “Middle Passage.” Images of maps depicting the “Triangular Slave Trade” influenced the use of the triangle as a primary element in designing the memorial’s shape. The memorial is conceptually also organized in three parts and visitors are meant to pass through “The Ark of Return” to intimately experience three primary elements on the interior space. The first element is a three dimensional map inscribed on the interior of the memorial. This map highlights the African continent at its center and graphically depicts the global scale, complexity and impact of the triangular slave trade in “acknowledgement of the tragedy.” The second element is full-scale human figure lying horizontally in front of a wall inscribed with images of the interior of a slave ship. This is meant to communicate and educate visitors on the physical conditions endured by the millions of African people transported under extreme conditions during the middle passage. The visitors are provided the opportunity to seriously “consider the legacy” of slavery’s impact upon humanity. The third element is a triangular reflecting pool, which introduces water in a meditative, ritualistic and spiritual manner. Visitors are invited to pour libations or say a prayer in memory of the millions of souls that were lost “lest we forget” this monumental and historic tragedy. Altera Engineering were invited to advice the design team at the concept stage. The firm’s engineers were tasked with collaborating with the contractor for the General Assembly renovation in locating and bringing power and water to the sculpture of the Ark.

  • CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART

    Bentonville, AR Full design and construction administration of mechanical systems for a multi-purpose museum with strict (ASHRAE Class AA) conservation requirements. 9 separate buildings included galleries, library, archival storage, offices, small data center, auditorium and restaurant. Mechanical systems consisted of 1,200 ton optimized chiller plant, 9700 MBH fully modulating condensing boiler plant, steam plant, 30 custom air handling units with both overhead and floor air distribution systems. Challenge: optimized chiller plant that can operate at or below 0.5 kw per ton while maintaining aggressive conservation environment. Solution: equipment selections to operate at highest efficiencies and customized control sequence. Mr. Morozov was MEP project lead while employed by BuroHappold. Mr. Morozov was responsible for all HVAC design and coordination of Plumbing, Sprinkler and Electrical trades. Home / Cultural CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART ARCHITECT . PROJECT SIZE . PROJECT COST . SCOPE . Design, approvals and construction administration of Mechanical, plumbing, sprinkler, electrical and fire alarm systems. Go Go Bentonville, AR Full design and construction administration of mechanical systems for a multi-purpose museum with strict (ASHRAE Class AA) conservation requirements. 9 separate buildings included galleries, library, archival storage, offices, small data center, auditorium and restaurant. Mechanical systems consisted of 1,200 ton optimized chiller plant, 9700 MBH fully modulating condensing boiler plant, steam plant, 30 custom air handling units with both overhead and floor air distribution systems. Challenge: optimized chiller plant that can operate at or below 0.5 kw per ton while maintaining aggressive conservation environment. Solution: equipment selections to operate at highest efficiencies and customized control sequence. Mr. Morozov was MEP project lead while employed by BuroHappold. Mr. Morozov was responsible for all HVAC design and coordination of Plumbing, Sprinkler and Electrical trades.

  • 712 BROADWAY

    712 Broadway is an 8-story landmarked building located in NoHo (North of Houston) historic district. The iron frame, granite and terra-cotta building was constructed as a warehouse in 1893 for the Scholle Brothers. The commercial building designed by Alfred Zucker replaced an 1803 3-story Federal-style mansion, which the Scholle Brothers bought for $88,000 in 1890. NoHo saw its first development by the first decade of the 19th century when John Jacob Astor acquired a large tract of land between Great Jones Street and Art Street (now Astor Place). From 1820 to 1840 the area developed as a fashionable residential district lined with lavish Federal and Greek Revival style residences. New York University was founded in 1831 in nearby Washington Square. Altera Engineering provided MEP engineering design and approval services for a loft apartment, working closely with architects and owners to integrate state-of-the-art mechanical systems into the existing historic features of the apartments. Home / Multifamily 712 BROADWAY ARCHITECT . PROJECT SIZE . PROJECT COST . SCOPE . Design, approvals and construction administration of mechanical, plumbing, sprinkler, electrical and fire alarm systems. Go Go 712 Broadway is an 8-story landmarked building located in NoHo (North of Houston) historic district. The iron frame, granite and terra-cotta building was constructed as a warehouse in 1893 for the Scholle Brothers. The commercial building designed by Alfred Zucker replaced an 1803 3-story Federal-style mansion, which the Scholle Brothers bought for $88,000 in 1890. NoHo saw its first development by the first decade of the 19th century when John Jacob Astor acquired a large tract of land between Great Jones Street and Art Street (now Astor Place). From 1820 to 1840 the area developed as a fashionable residential district lined with lavish Federal and Greek Revival style residences. New York University was founded in 1831 in nearby Washington Square. Altera Engineering provided MEP engineering design and approval services for a loft apartment, working closely with architects and owners to integrate state-of-the-art mechanical systems into the existing historic features of the apartments.

  • Home / Landmarks EAST 10 STREET, MANHATTAN TOWNHOUSES ARCHITECT . Phil Toscano (architect of record) Beringer Architects (interior) PROJECT SIZE . Each townhouse is about 5,500 SF PROJECT COST . $5 million SCOPE . Full MEP/FP design Go Go Full gut renovation of two landmarked townhouses near historic Stuyvesant Street in Manhattan in St. Mark’s historic district. According to Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), 106 and 110 are two of three identical houses were built in 1867 by an Irish-American builder, James Mulry, at an estimated cost of $6,000. The three buildings were erected on the lots that Mr. Mulry leased from Hamilton Fish- the 16th Governor of New York State and the Secretary of State under Ulysses Grant. The buildings were designed in a late version of the Italianate style by D. & J. Jardine Architects. The segmental-arched doorways have stone cornico-slabs supported on vertical console brackets which, in turn, are carried on paneled pilasters. They are four stories high, above a basement, and all retain their stoops. They are all three surmounted by individual bracketed cornices which are aligned at the same level. The stone basement wall is carried up to sill height at the first floor with recessed stone panels under each window. Altera Engineering carried upgrades to power, water, sewer utility connections. Our engineers worked hand-in-hand with the interior architects to thoughtfully integrate central heating and cooling systems into the buildings.

  • Home / Landmarks 347 WEST END AVENUE ARCHITECT . Lamb & Rich PROJECT SIZE . PROJECT COST . SCOPE . Morozov provided MEP engineering design and approval services for all mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems. Go Go This Eclectic Renaissance/Revival building was designed with a limestone façade and gabled tile roof by famed architects Lamb & Rich as part of an original row of 14 houses in 1891. The home’s first owner was Charles F. Rand who made his fortune in the mining industry in Cuba and Spain. In the 1950’s, the property was converted to nine apartments, and now the new owners are converting back to a single family residence. The scope of the conversion included an additional set back fifth floor, with an elevator overrun, roof bulkhead, and copper and glass skylight atop it. The current three-story-tall projecting rear yard addition will be demolished and replaced with a four-story-tall rear yard addition. A Juliette balcony, clad in copper, will jut out just into the canopy of a 130- to 140-year-old cherry tree. This is Altera Engineering's third project along the historic West End Avenue, 915 West End Avenue and 309 West 86th Street. The Altera Engineering team worked closely with the architect to thoughtfully integrate new infrastructure into the existing historic shell.

  • Home / Residential EAST 10 STREET, MANHATTAN TOWNHOUSES ARCHITECT . Phil Toscano (architect of record) Beringer Architects (interior) PROJECT SIZE . Each townhouse is about 5,500 SF PROJECT COST . $5 million SCOPE . Full MEP/FP design Go EAST 10 STREET, MANHATTAN TOWNHOUSES Full gut renovation of two landmarked townhouses near historic Stuyvesant Street in Manhattan in St. Mark’s historic district. According to Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), 106 and 110 are two of three identical houses were built in 1867 by an Irish-American builder, James Mulry, at an estimated cost of $6,000. The three buildings were erected on the lots that Mr. Mulry leased from Hamilton Fish- the 16th Governor of New York State and the Secretary of State under Ulysses Grant. The buildings were designed in a late version of the Italianate style by D. J. Jardine Architects. The segmental-arched doorways have stone cornico-slabs supported on vertical console brackets which, in turn, are carried on paneled pilasters. They are four stories high, above a basement, and all retain their stoops. They are all three surmounted by individual bracketed cornices which are aligned at the same level. The stone basement wall is carried up to sill height at the first floor with recessed stone panels under each window. Altera Engineering carried upgrades to power, water, sewer utility connections. Our engineers worked hand-in-hand with the interior architects to thoughtfully integrate central heating and cooling systems into the buildings.

  • Home / Residential ST KITTS VILLA ARCHITECT . Architecture in Formation PROJECT SIZE . PROJECT COST . SCOPE . Design, approvals and construction administration of mechanical, plumbing, sprinkler, electrical and fire alarm systems. Go ST KITTS VILLA St. Kitts, part of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, is known for luxury villas, often beachfront or hillside, catering to vacationers, investors, and those seeking citizenship-by-investment properties. These villas are typically modern, with amenities like private pools, ocean views, and proximity to attractions like Frigate Bay, Christophe Harbour, or the Royal St. Kitts Golf Course.

  • Home / Landmarks 79 WALKER STREET ARCHITECT . Stephen B Jacobs Group PROJECT SIZE . 21,500 GSF PROJECT COST . SCOPE . HVAC, sprinkler, plumbing and electrical power, fire alarm design and construction administration Go Go 79 Walker Street is a 6-story store and loft building constructed in 1869 for the rapidly expanding of the neighborhood’s textile trade. When completed, the building was occupied by manufacturing lofts, followed by a pocketbook manufacturer in the early 1900’s, hardware manufacturing and- most recently- an art gallery. The developers retained Altera Engineering to support their ambitious conversion to a modern office catering to New York city’s tech and startup firms. Altera Engineering provided MEP engineering design and approval services, working closely with architects and owners to upgrade building’s infrastructure and integrate state-of-the-art mechanical systems into the existing historic shell.

  • Home / Residential 347 WEST END AVENUE ARCHITECT . Lamb & Rich PROJECT SIZE . PROJECT COST . SCOPE . MEP engineering design Go 347 WEST END AVENUE This Eclectic Renaissance/Revival building was designed with a limestone façade and gabled tile roof by famed architects Lamb & Rich as part of an original row of 14 houses in 1891. The home’s first owner was Charles F. Rand who made his fortune in the mining industry in Cuba and Spain. In the 1950’s, the property was converted to nine apartments, and now the new owners are converting back to a single family residence. The scope of the conversion included an additional set back fifth floor, with an elevator overrun, roof bulkhead, and copper and glass skylight atop it. The current three-story-tall projecting rear yard addition will be demolished and replaced with a four-story-tall rear yard addition. A Juliette balcony, clad in copper, will jut out just into the canopy of a 130- to 140-year-old cherry tree. This is Altera Engineering's third project along the historic West End Avenue, 915 West End Avenue and 309 West 86th Street. The Altera Engineering team worked closely with the architect to thoughtfully integrate new infrastructure into the existing historic shell. Altera Engineering provided MEP engineering design and approval services for all mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems.

  • Home / Residential PHILLIPSPORT CHURCH HOUSE ARCHITECT . ARCHITECTURE IN FORMATION PC PROJECT SIZE . 3,000 SF PROJECT COST . SCOPE . Full MEP/FP design optimization, energy modeling Go PHILLIPSPORT CHURCH HOUSE A conversion of an 1823 Methodist church to a single family residence. Phillipsport United Methodist Church was one of the oldest buildings erected in village of Wurtsboro. Envisioned as a summer home, the owner/architect carefully inserted usable residential spaces into the existing 195-year old historic structure. Altera Engineering team worked closely with the designer to come up with a modern heating and cooling solution that can be seamlessly integrated into the building. Double height ceilings of the main sanctuary and 15-ft tall single pane float glass windows presented a challenge for heating and cooling that can meet the current energy code. The response was a high efficiency variable refrigerant volume system designed for both heating and cooling with displacement air supplies along the perimeter of the main sanctuary. The existing steeple was retrofitted to be used as a natural ventilation chimney.

  • Home / Landmarks 428 GREENWICH STREET, MANHATTAN ARCHITECT . PROJECT SIZE . About 5,500 SF PROJECT COST . $2.5 million SCOPE . Full MEP/FP design Go Go Full gut renovation of a landmarked townhouse located in the historic Tribeca North District. This 5-story, nineteen-foot-wide store and loft building was designed in 1883 by Thomas R. Jackson, an architect who worked extensively in the Tribeca area, for soap manufacturer James Pyle. The utilitarian Romanesque Revival design features red brick façade with rock-faced granite elements, corbelled brick cornice and cast-iron piers. Presently the building houses a Tokyo-style “Edo-mae” Sushi restaurant, which was awarded a single Michelin star in 2014. The upper floors of the building are being converted to a single family residence. Altera Engineering carried upgrades to power, water, sewer utility connections. Altera Engineering worked closely with architects to seal and insulate the original walls in order to minimize the occupants’ dependence on HVAC for comfort. Our engineers worked carefully integrated central heating and cooling systems above the ceilings and behind walls. The building is cooled and heated by a variable-refrigerant-volume system without the use of fossil fuels.

  • Home / Landmarks THE COLONY CLUB ARCHITECT . Li · Saltzman Architects, PC PROJECT SIZE . 80,000 SF PROJECT COST . SCOPE . Design, approvals and construction administration of mechanical, plumbing, sprinkler, electrical and fire alarm systems. Go Go The Colony Club is a women-only private social club in New York City. Founded in 1903 by Florence Jaffray Harriman, wife of J. Borden Harriman, as the first social club established in New York City by and for women, it was modeled on similar gentlemen's clubs. Today, men are admitted as guests. The Club presently has approximately 2,500 members who have access to discussions, concerts, and wellness and athletic programs. The Clubhouse is renowned for its classical proportions, sophisticated detailing, and graceful interiors. The building is approximately 80,000 square feet and consists of seven stories, 25 guest bedrooms, three dining rooms, two ballrooms, a lounge, a squash court, an indoor pool, a fitness facility and three personal spa service rooms. Annual gross revenues are more than $10 million.

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