Foundation News

New York University NYU College of Nursing, Dentistry and Bioengineering

Tommy Mui, senior project manager in charge of construction of New York University College of Nursing’s new building site at 433 First Avenue, is proud of how clean the streets around the active construction site are. “This is the standard,” he said during a recent midday tour, pointing out sidewalks, fences, and barriers that were virtually free of waste and debris.

The construction site is participating in the New York Building Foundation’s Construction for a Livable City program. With a modern design, high-tech capacity, and central location in NYU’s health science corridor, the building will be a 21st-century, multi-disciplinary learning community which brings NYU’s schools of nursing, dentistry, and engineering under one roof.

While construction activity and keeping the project on schedule remain the focus, Mui works with site managers to make sure streets and sidewalks are swept and washed as needed, and the temporary structures and fences are well-maintained, protective, and freshly painted. Graffiti - a risk on any surface in New York City - is quickly painted over.

To ensure the security of pedestrians, walkways are brightly lit using high intensity LED lights. Pedestrians are directed along a well-protected temporary pathway with a seven foot wide walkway shielded from the street by head-high barriers.

Project managers work to contain most construction activity inside the site’s fences. Materials are stored onsite, not curbside, making them invisible to the public.

NYU adjusts its work schedule to reduce impacts on neighbors.

Construction offices are also behind the site’s fences, not obstructing the street, so staff can conduct business without interfering with foot or vehicle traffic. At the same time, the existing trees on the site have been protected from damage, as they will become part of the landscape after project’s completion.

Communicating with neighbors and responding to their concerns is also a vital part of NYU’s efforts, particularly as challenging site conditions have extended the project’s duration. NYU’s Division of Operations and the Office of Government and Community Affairs are in regular, proactive outreach, communicating with residents of the adjacent properties about updates on the project’s progress and the impacts the construction may have on the surrounding community.

NYU’s community engagement strategy takes a number of forms. The NYU Construction website has a dedicated page (http://www.nyu.edu/construction/basic.science/) with a regularly updated construction schedule and clear explanations of what is happening and why. NYU also works closely with its neighbors and the Community Board to handle any community issues as they arise. Additionally, the community can call a regularly staffed NYU office with any questions or comments. Even after hours, individuals with immediate concerns are provided a direct cell phone number which is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

	Freshly painted fences and wide sidewalks improve the quality of life during construction

NYU prints flyers with the project’s update information, and regularly delivers them to the nearby low-income housing complex in order to reach the widest possible number of community residents.

Importantly, NYU has altered its morning start time to recognize the difficult hours of the medical students residing next door. “When possible, NYU coordinates construction activity with the academic calendar and exam schedules,” said Mui.

Building Foundation Chairman Frank Sciame lauded NYU's comprehensive efforts, "Institutions like NYU have the capacity to set a higher standard for construction site management," said Sciame. "We are thrilled that NYU has taken up the challenge and is establishing basic, common-sense standards of cleanliness and communication that the rest of the industry should follow."

CLC highlights:

	• Regularly swept and washed sidewalks.
	• High-intensity LED lighting.
	• Graffiti regularly removed from fencing.
	• Site operations and storage contained onsite.
	• Work hours adapted to nearby residents.
	• Strong communications including:
		• Regular community meetings.
		• Point of contact with phone number.
		• Website detailing construction activity.

Click here to view more pictures of the NYU School of Dentistry project.

For more information on the Construction for a Livable City program, contact Andrew Hollweck at the New York Building Foundation, 212-481-9230.