CURRENT PROJECT

The project will convert the residential homes of 14A and 7&8 into academic use for offices, meeting spaces, and conference rooms. 7&8 Washington Mews will be converted internally into one building as the new home of the China house which will house the academic units for the Asian, Pacific, and American Studies. 14A will house the Institute for African American Affairs as well as the Africa House. These will have a similar mission to our other International Houses around the Square such as La Maison Francais, Deutsche Haus, Ireland House, and the Abu Dhabi Institute. The streetscape will also be rehabilitated so that itÕs ADA accessible and compliant. The streetscape will remain similar in character to its present state as each section of cobblestone, blue stone, and concrete have historical significance to the development of the Mews.

The renovation is expected to begin in the fall of 2011 with a projected completion in the summer of 2012.

Work will be conducted during normal working hours Monday through Friday — 8AM - 6PM with noisier work starting at 9am. Advance notice will be given to neighbors if it is necessary for work to be performed on weekends.

Yes. All proposed changes have been through a Landmarks approval process.

This will be determined once the University hires a construction manager.

No. Residents will have access to the Mews at all times.

During the removal process, contractors take several precautions to minimize dispersal of asbestos fibers, including wetting the materials and sealing the building's ventilation system. The contractors place the wet asbestos debris in specially marked bags. Before bringing them out of the abatement area, the sealed bags of debris are washed and then placed in secondary bags that are also marked "Asbestos-Containing Materials". The sealed bags are placed in locked dumpster inside the building before being transported to a secure landfill that accepts asbestos waste. Only the abatement contractors are allowed to enter the abatement area once the project begins.

During the abatement, contractors wear disposable suits, hoods, gloves, shoe covers and respirators. Between the abatement area and the non-abatement area, there is a clean-up/decontamination area where the contractors remove their protective clothing before entering the clean zone. At no time does a worker exit the abatement area without properly decontaminating himself/herself.

Asbestos abatement regulations require the University to hire a third party firm to conduct continuous air testing for asbestos outside of the abatement area, clearance testing after the area has been cleaned up, and before the area may be reoccupied

To reduce the amount of dust, walls and floors will be sprayed with water just prior to demolition. All contractors will comply with OSHA's demolition requirements as well as NYU's dust control requirements.

No.

Yes, the designs call for a LEED Silver rating.

The entire streetscape will be rehabilitated at the end of this project. Additionally, the sidewalks will be repaired for ADA accessibility.

Yes. Prior to deciding how the street should be rehabilitated, the University hired a consultant to examine the historical significance of the Mews streetscape. It was determined that each section was historically important and relevant to the evolution of the Mews. The current streetscape is made of primarily three distinct sections: the cobblestones to the east, Belgian blocks in the middle, and concrete to the west. All sections will be preserved and the cobblestones and Belgian blocks will be reused. In the case that the stones are damaged, then they will be replaced. The concrete will also be poured to match the existing one. This work was approved by Community Board Two and the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission.

This project is an example of the reuse of an existing building before new development. Additionally, the University is maximizing use of its existing space.

Please check back as the website will be updated regularly with news and announcements regarding the project. You can also be added to our monthly construction e-mail list or request to receive regular communications about this project by emailing community.affairs@nyu.edu.

Please contact NYU's Facilities and Construction Management Client Services Center 212.998.1001 or regular communications about this project by emailing contactcsc@nyu.edu.