QUEENS, NY — The New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC), New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) and the design-build team of lead architect Urbahn Architects, design excellence architect Selldorf Architects and builder Scalamandre-Tully JV held a “Topping-out” ceremony to mark the completion of the structural frame for the $121 million Harper Street DOT administration building and yard redevelopment project at 32-11 Harper Street in the Willets Point section of Queens, adjacent to Flushing Bay. Scalamandre-Tully JV is a joint-venture of Peter Scalamandre and Sons, Inc. and Tully Group. Arup serves as owner’s representative. During the event, the guests, project team members and construction laborers signed the building’s final beam.
“The partnership between DDC and DOT goes beyond reconstructing our streets. We are proud of delivering a state-of-the-art admin building for their critical operations,” said NYC Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Paul A. Ochoa. “The 72,000-square-foot-Harper Street Administration Building-- which will include storage space, a truck wash building, flood wall, EV charging stations, and sanitary and storm sewer upgrades-- will house NYC DOT’s Fleet Services and Roadway Division. I was pleased celebrate this milestone with project staff, DOT Commissioner Flynn, and our Design-Build partners. The building’s topping off ceremony shows we are one step closer to completion, and at a faster pace thanks to Design-Build alternative delivery.”
“Today we are celebrating the traditional topping-out of the new Harper Street DOT Yard building that marks installation of the last steel beam of the structure and kicks off the final phase of the construction process. Achieving this critical milestone wouldn’t be possible without the dedication, hard work, creativity, and expertise of the New York City agencies, architects, project managers, engineers and construction workers. The new facility will be a significant architectural addition to the area, a major improvement of the yard’s operations and an important step in the development of the Willets Point waterfront. I look forward to celebrating its opening in 2027,” said Urbahn Principal Ranabir Sengupta, AIA, LEED AP.
To replace obsolete and deteriorated facilities built in 1934 that no longer met modern operational, safety, or resiliency standards, NYC DOT is redeveloping its existing 160,000-square-foot Queens Roadway Repair and Maintenance & Fleet Services maintenance yard by constructing a new administration building, washbay and security building; implementing resiliency and sustainability upgrades; regrading; reconstructing the perimeter bulkhead; improving circulation and reconstructing the site’s waste and stormwater conveyance systems.
"Reaching the topping out milestone was a proud moment for everyone involved in the Harper Street project. We’re incredibly grateful to our entire team, especially the men and women in the field whose hard work and dedication made this milestone possible. A project like this takes a tremendous amount of coordination and teamwork, and it was great to take a moment to recognize how far we’ve come together. We’re proud of what the team has accomplished and excited to keep that momentum going,” said Scalamandre Design-Build Project Manager Prince R. Shah, CCM.
The project includes the design and construction of three new buildings: a 72,820-square-foot, five-story administration and personnel building and warehouse; an 1,849-square-foot, two-story washbay structure; and a 100-square-foot precast concrete flood- and storm-resistant security booth. The new administrative building will feature a larger, two-story base – or the “plinth” – and a smaller footprint, three-story office section above.
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“The DOT's 160,000-square-foot yard operates 24/7 and houses over 300 Roadway Repair & Maintenance, and Fleet Services field employees, including warehousing and administration personnel,” explained Urbahn Associate Principal Ijeoma D. Iheanacho, NOMA, AIA, LEED AP, DBIA. “The redesigned facility will address the current deficiencies and limitations, including creating more efficient workflows and traffic pathways, increasing on-site safety for pedestrians and vehicles, increasing protection from flooding and implementing sustainable strategies to meet LEED Gold certification. The site's existing maintenance/repairs building and fuel monitoring and fueling stations will not undergo renovations, however three other structures will be demolished and replaced.”
According to Shah, “Construction is taking place in phases to ensure that the yard can continue its critical operations without interruptions. To achieve this, the construction team developed a detailed safety and logistics plan. Once the project is complete, all the DOT's maintenance components, equipment and supply storage will be housed in one location and the yard will operate as a highly functional and sustainable complex. A labor force of approximately 400 people will take part in the construction.”
The project team also includes landscaping architect Quennell Rothschild & Partners, HVAC engineer Legacy Engineering, plumbing and electrical engineer Collado Engineering, sustainability consultant WSP, lighting designer Lumen Architecture, and civil/structural/geotechnical/flood resilience/traffic engineer McLaren Engineering Group.
The architectural team includes Urbahn Design Principal-in-Charge Rafael Stein, AIA; Associate Principal Ijeoma D. Iheanacho; NOMA, AIA, LEED AP and project architect Michael Sheedy, AIA as well as Selldorf Principal Annabelle Selldorf, FAIA; Partner Kevin G. Keating, AIA; project manager Andy Kim, RA; project architect Matthew Fischer, RA and architectural designer Immanuel Went.
