“We thought a LEED building would not only be great for the environment but would also attract buyers,” says Dave Gaber, Bijou director.

The project, helmed by Union City, N.J.-based Del-Sano Contracting, integrates the five-story, 42,888-sq-ft structural steel, concrete and masonry warehouse with a seven-story addition rising on the east side of the property. Two new floors atop the warehouse bridge the old and new structures.

Housed within the structures are 30 condominiums and 7,500-sq.-ft. of retail space and the facility is topped by a 4,500-sq-ft green roof.

Highly efficient mechanical systems and low-e insulating windows decrease energy use by 19 percent. Greenhouse gas emissions are further reduced by purchasing all the building’s electrical power from alternative energy sources.

Separate HVAC systems for the residences and public areas provide fresh filtered air via rooftop air handling units. Interior materials and finishes were selected for their high level of recycled content, local manufactured materials and low VOC emissions.

New York-based SHoP Architects’ design for the 35,054-ft. structural steel and concrete addition employs a contemporary zinc-paneled façade with large glass windows and enclosed terraces, seamlessly marrying the addition with the warehouse’s 19th century handcrafted masonry detailing.

The two new stories atop the warehouse are built of structural steel and light gauge framing to limit the weight load on the building. To enable the existing building to handle the load, twenty-eight circular concrete columns on the floors below were reinforced with tubular steel enclosures.

The tubular steel jackets were split in half and bolted to the columns. Concrete slurry was then pumped into the space between the steel jackets and the columns.

During construction walls of the old structure were secured with shoring jacks and angles to maintain the structure’s integrity.

Restoration of the original masonry façade required cleaning, repointing of brick joints, restoration of natural stone sills and headers and integration of new flashings, coping and building components.

“This was a gem of a project,” saysAngelo Del Russo, CEO of Del-Sano Contracting. “This team knew the mission and all came together when there was a problem to figure out how to fix it.”

Key Players

Owner: Bijou Properties, LLC, Teaneck, N.J.
Architect: SHoP Architects, New York
General Contractor: Del-Sano Contracting Corporation, Union, N.J.
Structural and MEP Engineer: Buro Happold, New York
LEED Commissioning Agent: Dome-Tech Group, Edison, N.J.
Masonry, Restoration and Precast: Union Stone, Jersey City, N.J.
Structural Steel: J. Maltese Iron Works, Inc., New Brunswick, N.J. and Blue Ridge Erectors, Bangor, N.J.
Carpentry: Molba Construction, Little Ferry, N.J.