Ask the Engineer: Creating Amenity Spaces

Exercise facility building amenity
Better amenities can equal better quality of life for residents, increased value and salability of units, and can sometimes even generate income for the building, such as a fitness room with annual gym membership.

Building amenities are getting more exotic by the day–IMAX theater, squash court, chef’s kitchen, anyone? In a competitive market, co-op/condo boards and building owners realize that adding or improving amenities can be a worthwhile investment.

With some creative thinking and careful planning, unused or underutilized spaces can be converted into functional and attractive offerings for your building. However, effectively repurposing space can be a considerable undertaking. To make it less daunting, the first step a board should take before starting any major construction project is to hire a professional engineer or registered architect to conduct an in-depth evaluation and analysis, known as a feasibility study, to determine the project’s viability.

In RAND’s latest Ask the Engineer column, we discuss:

  • How feasibility studies can save time and money
  • Considerations a site evaluation will cover
  • Code and zoning research
  • What is included in the feasibility study report

For more on feasibility studies, read the full article and send us your questions or comments to info@randpc.com, or call us at 212-675-8844. We look forward to hearing from you!

Stephen Varone, AIA is president of RAND Engineering & Architecture, DPC and Peter Varsalona, PE is RAND’s Principal and head of the firm’s Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Team.