New Cellar Bath Memo!


The DOB has finally standardized and clarified the rules for a 3-piece bath in a cellar. It’s explicitly permitted under certain limitations:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dob/downloads/bldgs_bulletins/bb_2011-010.pdf

Jim Hill, RA, LEED AP
Urban Pioneering Architecture

Categories: Building Code
By JimHill | 04/26/2011 4:53 PM | Comment

Apartment Combination – Lost Your Email


Last night I received an email from someone who was looking for an architect to combine two apartments. Unfortunately, the email was accidentally deleted before I could respond to it. If you’re that person, please re-send the email. I’d love to discuss the project with you.

Jim Hill, RA, LEED AP
Urban Pioneering Architecture
jim@urban-pioneering.com

Categories: Architects
By JimHill | 03/24/2011 9:14 AM | Comment

Horgan Beckett


I was at the Architectural Digest home show this weekend and cam across some beautiful light fixtures and furniture made by a local artisan, Gregory Horgan. In addition to the ones pictured here, he was introducing some that had an expanded metal lath look that matched the actual material used in accompanying benches and tables. It was really cool stuff. I’m hoping to use some in a small restaurant project I’ll be working on soon.

Greg recognized my name tag from my postings here, so we got to talking. He’s got a great local business producing beautiful work, so I thought this would be a great way to get his name out there. Have a look at his stuff. He could be a great resource for people in this community.

http://www.horganbecket.com

Jim Hill, RA, LEED AP
Urban Pioneering Architecture

Categories: Furniture
By JimHill | 03/21/2011 11:08 AM | Comment

Steel Fence to Thwart Fire – Late Reply


I didn’t see rebox’s reply from a couple days ago until just now and I wanted to make sure he/she got the answer to his/her question.

That’s a good question. A deck and a roof deck are actually considered very different items and are mentioned in different sections of the code. A roof deck falls under section (Subchapter) 5: FIRE PROTECTION CONSTRUCTION
REQUIREMENTS, Article 4: PREVENTION OF EXTERIOR FIRE SPREAD: 27-338 Roof structures:

(j) Miscellaneous roof structures. – The following roof structures may be constructed of combustible material if
less than twelve feet high above the roof: antenna supports; flagpoles; clothes drying frames; duckboarding or
platforms that do not cover more than twenty per cent of the roof area at that level.

“platforms…” is what refers to roof decks.

The 3 feet doesn’t apply because the roof itself should have fire rated construction within 3 feet of the lot line, or have a 12″ high parapet providing fire separation between buildings.

JH

Categories: Decks
By JimHill | 08/06/2010 9:14 AM | Comment

Brazen Exchange!


A very informed potential client just mentioned a special gizmo that would reduce the heat of the water from a radiator system to run radiant floor heat from a typical boiler. I’ve done a tiny bit of research just now and found something called a “brazed heat exchanger” which seems to do just that.

Basically, it’s a thick plate with two (or more) holes in it. The boiler pipe runs through one hole, in contact with the plate, and the radiant floor heat pipe runs through the other. The plate absorbs heat from the water in the boiler pipe and distributes it to the water in the radiant pipe.

Sounds like it should work, right? Has anyone tried something like this? I’d be curious to hear how they do.

Categories: Heating
By JimHill | 04/09/2010 2:39 PM | Comment

Real estate event


I’m an architect who does a lot of work in Park Slope, and I’m teaming up with some real estate professionals to provide free advice on buying, refinancing and remodeling in the current fiscal market. It’s May 12. If you’d like more information, please contact me outside the forum.

Jim Hill, RA, LEED AP
Urban Pioneering Architecture
jim(at)urban-pioneering(dot)com
www(dot)urban-pioneering(dot)com

Categories: Announcements
By JimHill | 05/07/2009 12:11 PM | Comment

Free Bricks – Loads of ‘em


I’m an architect and I’m working on a project in Windsor Terrace in which we will be taking down an existing brick garage to make way for a new building. We’ll have lots of old brick to bring to a dump. I’d love to find a better use for them. If you want a lot, I could arrange a drop off, or I might be able to open up the site to people who want just a few.

This will likely happen within the next week or two.

Categories: Architectural Salvage
By JimHill | 11/25/2008 12:00 PM | Comment

construction budget insurance


I’m an architect, and I’m doing a new 2-family in Windsor Terrace. The clients just asked me if they should get construction budget insurance to protect themselves from overruns.

I’ve never heard of this type of insurance. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Categories: Construction
By JimHill | 08/01/2008 9:28 AM | Comment