While New York City's 100-person Building Resiliency Task Force—convened in the wake of Superstorm Sandy—begins reviewing codes to recommend ways to make low-lying buildings more flood-resistant, building owners are reassessing their own storm protocols. At least one, Brookfield Office Properties, already has begun rebuilding the three flooded basements of its 50-story One New York Plaza.
The office tower sits near the southern tip of Manhattan. On Oct. 29, a 3-ft-high storm surge flooded three tower basements: a 30,000-sq-ft retail concourse, a garage and the central plant. Crews eventually pumped out 30 million gallons of water.