Before I started at RAND as an intern on the Facade & Roofing Team this summer, I had no idea what a FISP was, or for that matter, half of the things an engineering and architecture firm does. I’m glad…
Over the years, various boards of directors at Parkside Assocation, located at 549 41st Street in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, resolved to replace the leaky roof of the 89-year-old building. But best intentions aside, they managed only temporary fixes and patchwork repairs.…
Last Tuesday evening, RAND hosted one-hundred plus guests for an evening of wine, food, and bowling, at New York’s Frames Bowling Lounge. Although fun was certainly on the menu, the goal of the evening was to support New Alternatives for…
To temporarily escape the grip of an extended heatwave, RAND coworkers, family, and friends fled the steamy city last Saturday for the air-conditioned facilities of Chelsea Piers, Connecticut (yes, you read that correctly—there’s a Chelsea Piers in Connecticut!) for RAND’s…
A moldy basement, leaking roofs, and oatmeal-like mortar are scary things no one should ever encounter in a newly renovated building. Unfortunately for one cooperative in Harlem, a less than stellar gut renovation, which included a new roof, windows, and joist…
In 1866, New York City’s first charity pediatric clinic began as a ship docked in lower Manhattan. It was the start of a series of vessels and barges that took poor immigrant children and their parents away from the unsanitary…
In Brooklyn’s Cadman Plaza stand two imposing figures, Victory and Family, 24-foot-tall limestone sculptures flanking a memorial honoring the Brooklynites who lost their lives during the Second World War. Dedicated in 1951, the memorial is one of five WWII tributes…
Financial risk is always associated with construction projects, which often involve significant investment and a high level of coordination of several parties for successful completion. As a measure of financial protection, property owners can purchase performance bonds and labor and materials…
It’s been nearly one year since the 8th Cycle of New York City’s Facade Inspection Safety Program (FISP, formerly called Local Law 11/98) began, and buildings with block numbers ending in 4, 5, 6, or 9 (Subcycle 8A) now have one…
One of RAND’s recent projects was supposed to be a routine roofing replacement job, until contractors discovered sand where there should have been concrete. Village House, a 75-unit, 14-story Greenwich Village condominium located at 60 West 13th street and built…
After digging out from last month’s blizzard, there’s no better time than now to think of those in need of a warm coat. As part of our charitable RAND Gives Back program, RAND held its annual winter coat drive in…
When property management firm Midboro Management moved their offices to 333 Seventh Avenue in Chelsea, they turned to RAND to design the build-out and administer the construction for the project. The newly configured 5,000-square-foot space entailed architectural, HVAC, electrical, and lighting…
The Second Avenue Subway project has affected many properties along its path, and a number of owners have had to make permanent alterations to their building systems as a result. Even with the first phase of the new subway line planning…
It started off as a night at the (wax) museum. RAND’s annual holiday party began with a scavenger hunt at Madame Tussauds in Times Square where coworkers, family members, and friends made their way through the museum’s five floors of life-like (some eerily…
Last month, my colleagues from the Buildings and Construction Authority of Singapore (BCA) and I visited New York City to learn more about the city’s Facade Inspection Safety Program (FISP, formerly known as Local Law 11/98) and to keep abreast…
Watch Randy the Snowman making holiday inspections to ensure a safe and happy holiday season for all.
Last week RAND held its third annual blood drive in partnership with the American Red Cross. For five hours, our Central Meeting Space transformed into a fully operational blood donation center, where we rolled up our sleeves and went to work. This…
Once the various elements of a construction project are in place—the budget and timeline have been approved, the contractor selected, and work permits obtained—the remaining step is for the building owner and the contractor to sign an agreement so the…
Most New York City property owners and managers know that NYC Local Law 11/98, now called the Facade Inspection Safety Program (FISP), requires an inspection of a building’s facades every five years. The many aspects of the program, however, are…
Leg Warmers? Check. Popped collars? Check. Big Hair? Like totally! The Make-A-Wish organization’s 80’s-themed benefit party at Le Poisson Rouge in the West Village on November 12 was an evening filled with music, dancing, a hefty dose of 80’s nostalgia—and…
To help feed hungry families, RAND is proud to participate in Canstruction, an annual charity event in which local engineering and architecture firms build sculptures out of canned foods for a public art exhibition. The cans used in the sculptures are…
Blood transfusions help save lives–and a constant supply of fresh blood is always needed. Every few seconds, somewhere in the country, someone requires blood–40,000 pints are used each day. Please join RAND in partnership with the American Red Cross for…
New York City is known for its buildings, many of them steeped in history, culture, and architectural significance. Fortunately there are various groups and agencies dedicated to preserving the distinct character of such properties and sustaining the vibrancy they add…