The NYCHA LaGuardia Houses development, located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, consists of ten 16-story buildings constructed in 1957 and 1965. There are 1,093 apartments on site with dedicated residences for the elderly.
Flooding occurred on portions of the site as a result of Superstorm Sandy, and as part of NYCHA’s Resiliency and Renewal Program, MDSA completed a project to provide flood mitigation for the affected buildings. Permanent dry-floodproofing installations, with coverage beyond FEMA and NYC Building Code required levels, protect existing building services.
Additionally, a new Electric Service Building has been completed to house new equipment. New standby emergency generators along with electrical panelboards, meters, transfer switches, and related equipment, are elevated above the Design Flood Elevation to assist in the prevention of future power loss or permanent damage from hurricane-like events.
“NYCHA’s Recovery and Resilience Program is pushing design boundaries in building reinforcements, storm surge protection, and infrastructure upgrades.”
NYCHA Recovery and Resiliency Program Website.
Client/Agency
New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Office of Recovery and Resilience
Completion Date
Spring 2020
Size
10.67-acre site
Services Provided
Architectural Services
Project Type
Flood Mitigation, Standby Emergency Generators
Construction Cost
$20 million
Underground conduit installed to connect generators to existing buildings being served. Site restoration completed to retain the community public spaces, including upgrades to site lighting.
“Our focus was to strengthen the site against future flooding while preserving the quality of its shared outdoor spaces. This project reflects our commitment to resilient, community‑minded design that keeps essential systems protected and the environment welcoming.”
Michael Speronza, Project Manager at MDSA
The Details
