Operated under the auspices of Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY, Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts (BGC) is an international study and exhibition center in New York City devoted to the interdisciplinary study of the decorative arts of all cultures. The BGC opened in New York City in 1993 and enlisted our services to perform a complete gut-rehabilitation of their building.

Bard Hall, originally erected in 1926, is a graduate center dormitory facility. The building is a 56,000-SF, 10-story structure that contains 58 dormitory apartments. The façade of the building underwent a total restoration of its masonry exterior that included cleaning and repair, lintel replacement, repainting, and the removal of all existing exterior fire escapes. A vertical “cut” in the surface of the building allowed for a curtainwall element to provide the entry of natural light into the building. Construction on the top of the building included a new roof, water tower, and mechanical room.

The project team demolished the first two levels, creating a new 1,500-SF, two-story lobby/reception area with terrazzo flooring. The lobby’s upper level has space for faculty offices and a conference room. The lower level contains a 1,000-SF student lounge/multi-purpose room that can accommodate lectures and special events, an exercise room, laundry room and a rear landscaped terrace courtyard with new pavers. All dormitory apartments are fully equipped with kitchens and baths with the top two floors containing deluxe apartments for faculty housing.

The project also installed new HVAC, cores and elevators systems. The technical system upgrade consisted of a new electrical service at 2000 amps and a new HVAC system comprised of heat pump units, AC units, fluid coolers, and a gas fired modular boiler plant. The new elevator pit required shoring an existing ­column and a new column footing. The scope of the work included asbestos abatement.