City College of New York
Townsend Harris Hall
New York, NY

Richard Dattner Architects was engaged to design a complete gut and modernization of this 70,000 SF 1908 structure, that was part of the original CCNY Harlem Heights campus, in order to accomodate CUNY’s College of Nursing. Among the challenges was the need to convert a four story high auditorium to usable office space while not impacting the building’s landmarked exterior. Robert Derector Associates’ task was to design an
all new energy efficient mechanical and electrical infrastructure while minimally encroaching onto the architect’s vision. The new mechanical system utilizes a series of two pipe fan coil units at the perimeter for heating and cooling and chilled water air handlers for the interior spaces. Campus wide high temperature hot water was used as the heating source and converted into hot water via a new shell and tube heat exchanger. Chilled water was taken from the Campus Chilled Water Plant.

The entire electrical service and distribution system was demolished and replaced with a new system featuring dead front main switchgear, conduit and wire feeders and circuit breaker panel boards. High efficiency fluorescent lighting was installed throughout. A new outdoor standby generator with an integral fuel tank was provided outside the building to energize all life safety loads in the building and in the adjacent Sheppard Hall. All plumbing for toilet rooms was also replaced. A new fire alarm system was installed and connected to the campus-wide fire alarm system. Sprinklers were also installed throughout.