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Project
of the Month
The Columbia Condominium - 275 West 96th Street
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The
Columbia Condominium is a 35-story luxury residential building,
which is situated on Manhattan's Upper West Side at the intersection
of Broadway and West 96th Street. Constructed in the early 1980s,
the Columbia is by far the tallest structure in the area. |
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Built with every modern
convenience and amenity, the Columbia has an attractive brick
façade, beautifully adorned marble lobby, an underground
parking garage, a fully equipped Health Club, an Olympic sized
swimming pool, a children's play center and first class meeting
rooms for functions, parties, etc. There are commercial establishments
and stores located along the Broadway side.
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building has a low-rise section along the Broadway elevation and
a hi-rise Tower which is set back from the Broadway elevation. The
exterior construction consists of brick facades with exposed concrete
bands or eyebrows at each floor. |
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a series of cantilever balconies with concrete decks and brick parapets
at various locations as well as several large setback terraces.
Many of the exterior elements had undergone significant deterioration
as a result of several factors including the original construction,
stop gap repair methodologies which were implemented in the past
but have proven to be ineffective as long term repair methodologies,
and the adverse effects of the passage of time and the associated
weather patterns including freeze-thaw cycles. |
| Epstein
Engineering, P.C. was retained to inspect and assess the conditions
of the roof, terraces, balconies and exterior facades. After performing
a series of inspections at the site, which included a series of
scaffold drops up and down the 35-story building, Epstein Engineering
developed a scope of work to address and repair the exterior conditions
and render the building and its exterior elements into sound condition.
The scope of work developed to repair the various conditions observed
during the inspection phase included: |
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1. Replacement
of the low rise roof membrane system and associated terrace paver
systems.
2. Replacement of parapet walls.
3. Replacement of deteriorated expansion joints.
4. Replacement of spalling brick.
5. Brick repointing.
6. Repair of spalling concrete bands/eyebrows.
7. Repairs to concrete balcony fascia, decks, and undersides |
| In order
to finalize the Plans and Specifications relative to the roof and
exterior façade conditions, research was done to determine
the appropriate materials to be utilized. Johns Manville roofing
materials were selected for the replacement low rise roof system,
Hanover pavers were utilized for the low rise roof walking surfaces
and the concrete restoration and related work was performed by means
of materials manufactured by Sika Corporation. These materials were
selected to effectively remedy the conditions observed and to provide
for formal guarantees against future deterioration. This is a significant
benefit to the client. |
| To provide
for suitable quality control during the construction phase, representatives
of Epstein Engineering as well as from Johns Manville and Sika Corporation
visited the site on a regular basis. The Field Engineers from Epstein
Engineering rode the scaffold while at the site in order to observe
the work being performed from an up-close vantage point. Any defects
observed relative to the quality of the work were promptly brought
to the attention of the contractor for repair. |
| The $2,000,000
project at The Columbia Condominium was completed on time, within
budget, and as a high quality finished product. Some 20 years of
on-going persistent problems relative to the exterior elements of
this hi-rise property have been alleviated thus enabling the residents
to regain the high quality of life sought when they first occupied
their homes. |
