Building:   Battery Park - South , New York, N.Y.
Client:   Museum of Jewish Heritage
Architect:   Roche Dinkeloo & Assocs.
Structure Type:   Steel Structure
Project Category:   Museums and Libraries
Photos:   Click photos to enlarge

Ysrael A. Seinuk Area of Specialization:

Structures with Waterfront Considerations Blast Resistant Design (anti-terrorism)

Project Award

EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS - 1999 Greater New York Construction User Council

Project Description
Located in Battery Park City in Manhattan, The Museum of Jewish Heritage winds around like a maze, the top level offering an impressive view of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The original 30,000 S.F. building was later expanded to include a five-story, 82,000 S.F. addition. The building is a steel framed structure of the highest quality architectural design, which incorporates long span, column free exhibit spaces. The ability to accept a future overbuild was integrated into the design. In addition, the project included blast vulnerability analysis, blast resistant structural design, and evaluation of the facade in response to blast loadings.

The design plan included utilizing an inner and outer ring of steel columns supporting two steel rings and radial steel beams which in turn, support pre-cast, pre-stressed planks with two layers of concrete topping. The first layer is structured, and the top layer contains a web of conduit and serves as the final concrete surface. The roof is supported by 12 "cranked" steel beams, welded into a "Z" shape. On top of the roof members sit 12 sloped pre-cast concrete raker beams with a saw-toothed appearance, providing a horizontal bearing surface for stone-faced architectural concrete ledges to hide mechanical equipment.