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Occupancy

2014

Location

Court Square, Lower Manhattan

Client

NYC Dept. of Youth & Community Development and NYC Dept. for the Aging

The formerly remote divisions of the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) and the Department for the Aging (DFTA) have moved into newly renovated offices at 2 Lafayette Street, in the civic core of the five boroughs. BKSK’s design breathes fresh air into 110,000 square feet across 7 floors of the historic city-owned Court Square Building, which now features dynamic connecting stairs, commanding city views in both individual and common spaces, bold graphics that celebrate each agency’s mission, and increased thermal, visual, and ergonomic comfort. Through a design approach that went above and beyond requirements put forth by Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) and the Design Excellence program of the Department of Design and Construction (DDC), BKSK delivered a community-centered workplace of exceptional quality that promotes holistic wellbeing for employees and the public alike. The project received LEED Gold certification.

Awards

Center for Active Design, Active Design Excellence Awards, 2016

COLLABORATORS
Weidlinger Associates – structural; OLA Consulting Engineers – MEP; James Gainfort Consulting Architects – exterior envelope; Poulin & Morris – graphic design & wayfinding; Horton Lees Brogden – lighting design; Cerami & Associates – a/v & security

Photos by Raimund Koch and Jeffrey Totaro

"With the building’s views of Manhattan’s stately Civic Center and an interesting floor plan, [BKSK] saw opportunity to transform the bleak interiors into a light-infused workspace that facilitated collaboration and connectivity."

Nicole Anderson for The Architect's Newspaper