News
July 1, 2008 marks a new era in the New York City construction industry. On this date, a “New Building Code” went into effect. These new regulations make sweeping changes focusing on construction safety, field inspections, the use and approval of building materials and fire protection systems and assemblies.
New York City’s “new Code” is based upon the International Building Code (IBC), which is already a standard for many jurisdictions throughout the country and across the world.
As of July 2008, compliance with more stringent construction safety and inspection requirements is mandatory. Starting in 2009, all provisions of the IBC will be mandatory for all new buildings and for significant alterations which involve a change in Zoning Use Group or Building Code Occupancy Group.
Inspections of Life Safety sensitive areas of construction (steel, concrete, underpinning, etc.) will still be required as before. However, the qualifications of the various inspectors will be more carefully verified with more training being required to obtain inspectors credentials. See our June 2008 newsletter for more information.
Why us: Innovative & Experienced
- Specialists in the planning of complex, phased health care projects.
- Over 40 years of combined health care design excellence.
- We feature principal and associate level management.
- The majority of our clients utilize our services on a continuing basis.
- We have earned a solid reputation with State and Local Health Agencies.
- A full service team with a personal approach.
- We understand how your business works and will serve as a strategic planning partner.
- A reputation for bringing in projects on time and on budget.
- An integrated multidisciplinary design approach focusing on the total project.
- We offer project management as a value added service -- coordinating the efforts of a professional consulting team.
John W. Baumgarten Architect, P.C. and its senior staff have been specializing in the design of health care facilities for over 40 years. The overwhelming majority of this work has been in the New York metropolitan area and the surrounding suburban counties. The scope of these projects ranges from aesthetic refurbishments to major additions/modernizations and new buildings.
Our experience extends to the design of specialty care and service units which include: dialysis, adult day care, assisted living, pediatrics, ventilator/respiratory, dementia, Barriatric and sub-acute/short term rehabilitation.
Through our project work, John W. Baumgarten has established a solid working relationship with State and Local Health and Building Agencies.
Current project experience with Skilled Nursing “right sizing” projects has given us a unique perspective on the recent changes in the local regulatory environment. On these projects we have served as a strategic planning partner to our clients as well as being their architects. It is essential that the design team thoroughly understands the impact of the financing, logistics and phasing which drive the reconfiguration of a major facility or campus.
A further challenge has been containing the total project cost in an environment where material costs have skyrocketed, health agencies have frozen construction cost caps, facilities are being asked to contribute more equity and the sources of financing are becoming limited. Overlay the burden of potentially lengthy regulatory approvals on the project schedule and you are fighting the effects of time on your budget.
Our ability to help you navigate this process will have a positive effect on your project timeline and you will be assured that an “approvable solution” will be the result of the planning process.