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NEW YORK CITY'S
BUILDINGS & ARCHITECTURE |
Those
who live in The City that Never Sleeps look skyward at buildings, which
reach the clouds. New York City’s most impressive architecture
seems to have its own distinct existence. Skyscrapers are the architectural
masterpieces, the landmarks; NYC is the built environment filled
with romance and fun in THE most exciting city. Commercial, residential
and institutional architecture in New York City are all part of The
City’s rich heritage.
Skyscrapers became a NYC Architecture Symbol
Tall buildings have been a way of marketing NYC hotels, life insurance
companies and banks for over 160 years. Architects built skyscrapers
and these skyscrapers became the symbol of NYC in the early years
of the twentieth century. Throughout the last century, skyscrapers
were revered as the idols of New York, and into the current century,
it is the NYC skyscrapers that define the city. Many consider NYC
the ‘capital of the world’ reflected in this amazing
metropolis.
The architects accredited with designing NYC’s tall buildings
fulfilled the needs of the budding major commercial center in North
America. The skyscraper was good for New York. It created a tremendous
amount of income. It was a sign of the vitality of New York’s
business and commercial field. In fact, rather than limiting the
height of these sun blockers, city fathers decided in 1916 to regulate
the shape of the buildings so that light and air would reach the
sidewalk. Built on massive bases, towers set back from the sidewalk
soared to the sky.
Today’s residents’ needs differ greatly from those of
the original tenants. The open office environment is appropriate
in the 21st century’s high tech world. Office rooms with walls
between were the norm of the initial designers. Refurbishment of
the NYC skyscrapers’ office environments improves and modernizes
these building while falling short of rebuilding or redeveloping.
Refurbishing thus does not normally require planning permission unless
alterations to the external appearance are projected or the project
takes place in a landmark listed building.
What is on the refurbishment agenda?
Adding air-conditioning ducts is the most demanding single task in renovating
old skyscraper interiors. Buildings built before 1950 usually have no
provision for them. Holes are cut in the floors to accommodate ducting.
Vertical ducts are then run through them. In fact, the entire HVAC (heating,
ventilation, air-conditioning) systems has to be updated.
New plumbing and electric are other service additions and improvements.
Generally, all telecommunications facilities in older building were outdated.
The use of modern multimedia PCs and increased amount of data within
in-building networks required new horizontal distribution for the telecom
cabling. Also, according to old cabling standards, each type of cabling
had to use a separate routing, whereas the new cabling can be placed
together in a common infrastructure. In addition to data communication,
refurbishment of every office meets the need for extensive facilities
for plugging-in of audio-visual appliances.
Old buildings’ exteriors can also be modernized
Windows are often targets of the refurbishment project. Many technological
advances significantly enhance the thermal performance of windows in
office buildings and homes by minimizing heat loss in heating-dominated
climates and by minimizing solar heat gain in cooling-dominated climates.
High-performance windows can improve the effectiveness of the building
envelope and improve comfort.
Shed light on the environment
Lighting fittings, modified to suit the kind of work employees perform,
result in the addition of individual work lighting made either as furniture-mounted
lighting or as swing-arm lamps with their own switch, depending on the
nature of the work and the office space. Whereas the existing core fluorescent
lighting used as ambient lighting around a building's circulation core
and at the perimeter windows can be retained, additional lighting may
also installed to what become specialty areas of the building.
When a building is refurbished, it usually becomes a renovation.
What is the goal of your office renovation?
We applaud your determination to preserve your building as a landmark
of its era and style while meeting the needs of new interiors and satisfying
the requirements of new uses being made of the building or new foundational
arrangements within the building. Our architects and designers will work
with you to reach your goals. Office renovation modernizes the interiors
-- unless the interiors are a designated landmark. But in classic entrance
lobbies or other lavish interior spaces within the building, all is left
to the original state or restored to the old-time splendor.
MyHome's Services
Let our knowledgeable craftsmen, engineers, and architects protect and
enhance your facility. Contact us and we'll be happy to be at your service.
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