Carlyle Court, New York University, New York
RETROFIT TEAM
- ARCHITECT: Superstructures Engineers + Architects, New York
- RESTORATION FIRM: Skyline Restoration, Long Island City, New York
MATERIALS
Skyline Restoration and Superstructures Engineers + Architects worked with the university to update perimeter conditions for the 15-story building, which was built in 1987 and houses approximately 740 students. Its roof and terraces needed to be brought up to code and waterproofed for leaks because of issues with door thresholds and parapets. The project required a turnaround time of between six and 10 days.
Between 1,500 and 1,800 square feet of Kingspan’s Optim-R vacuum insulation panels were used in the retrofit project. Optim-R is a next-generation insulation comprising rigid vacuum insulation panels with a microporous core, which is evacuated, encased and sealed in a thin, gastight envelope to provide R-values and an ultra-thin insulation solution.
“The existing roofing system’s insulation thickness was minimal and the doors and through-wall air-conditioning units were very low,” says Michael Stripunsky, senior associate, Superstructures Engineers + Architects. “The distance from the top of the existing concrete deck to the bottom of the air-conditioning unit wall penetration was less than 8 inches. If traditional insulation had been used, the top of the new roofing system would have been just at the level of the wall opening.”
Optim-R’s level of thermal efficiency—up to R-28 on 1 inch and R-57 on 2 inch using calculated edge thermal resistance properties—combined with minimal thickness, provides a suitable solution for applications like that of the student housing building, where a lack of construction space or depth is an issue.
“In a case like this, using Optim-R was a cost-effective and efficient solution. We saved the client money and time and allowed for normal building operation,” Stripunsky adds. “Using Optim-R also allowed us to avoid costly modifications to the existing perimeter conditions.”
INSULATION MANUFACTURER: Kingspan
THE RETROFIT
NYU is one of New York’s largest and most prestigious universities. It sits on roughly 230 acres, spans more than 100 buildings and is home to approximately 28,000 undergraduate students that are housed in more than 20 residence halls.
PHOTO: Kingspan