March 2012: On the Drawing Board

K-8 school in Manhattan to meet Green Schools Guide standard

Designed by Dattner Architects, a new K-8 grade school in Manhattan will meet the Green Schools Guide, which the firm developed for the NYC School Construction Authority. PS/IS 342 will feature more than 20 classrooms, art and music rooms, a science suite, a library, a gymnasium, and a cafeteria. The new school, which will be built within Extell’s Riverside Center development, will be located in the first four floors of a high-rise tower designed by Atelier Christian de Portzamparc Architects (design architect) and SLCE Architects (executive architect). The school is scheduled to be ready for September 2015 occupancy.[pagebreak] 

Pennsylvania hospital to provide quieter patient quarters

Chambersburg (Pa.) Hospital is readying a new four-level addition, which includes 174,000 sf of new construction and 4,100 sf of renovated space. The new development will house 171 all-private patient rooms, a new cardiology and catheterization area, a new dialysis unit, and a central utility plant. The Building Team is led by HBE Corp., which is providing architecture, engineering, and construction services on the $72 million project. The new building is being designed to provide patients with a quieter, more restful inpatient experience

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Abu Dhabi Airport terminal positions city for tourism spike

Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, the new Midfield Terminal Complex at the Abu Dhabi International Airport has been approved by the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi. The terminal is conceived as a gateway to the city. The design creates large, unimpeded internal zones that will enhance passenger experiences and accommodate long-term adaptability to industry demands. Long-span arches support the roof, reaching 50 meters at the highest point. The internal scale of the departure hall creates a sense of openness, allowing for connectivity with the exterior landscape. When completed, ultimate capacity will exceed 50 million travelers and 2 million tons of cargo per year.

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Supportive housing developments blossoming in New York boroughs

Gran Kriegel Associates has designed two new residential buildings sponsored by nonprofit organizations that will offer long-term housing with onsite services to support independent living. Urban Pathways is developing a 50-unit building in Queens, N.Y., for chronically mentally ill individuals, with single room occupancy/community residences. Comunilife is developing the El Rio Residences in Bronx, N.Y., as a green, eight-story residence with 65 studio units for low-income seniors and chronically homeless single adults who suffer from mental disability.