Sciame constructed a custom bridge and material and personal hoist on the Vanderbilt Avenue/western side of the terminal to bring in construction materials.

“This allowed us to create an ideal loading, unloading and manpower entrance point, directly into our space, without disruption to the viaduct, to 42nd St., to the public below, or to the MTA subway command center above,” Colletta says. “We’ve limited the amount of construction and manpower through the existing terminal that would have affected operation of the restaurants and retail that require access to the loading dock.”

The bridge and hoist has reduced down time and associated costs and enabled the firm to maintain schedule without relying on factors outside of its control. The project should wrap up during the second quarter of 2011.

“There was a cost to put up the hoist and bridge, but there was definitely an overall savings in what we picked up in time and limiting loss of production,” Colletta says. “Good planning allowed us to have minimal impact to the people coming in and out of Grand Central Terminal, to the streets around Grand Central Terminal and the people relying on the freight cars in the building to stock their stores.”

Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center

One of the goals of the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center has been to ensure that all of the construction under way South of Canal Street causes minimal disruption to residents and people who work in and visit the area. The command center has been tracking more than 58 million in square feet of buildings and more than 200 lane miles of roads since 2003.

“The Building Congress created a list with some simple recommendations that should be put forward to contractors,” says Robert N. Harvey, executive director of the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center. “It’s to be employed across New York, and we think it’s good.”

The command center monitors air quality and noise plans and implementation of those interventions, and works to keep the community informed about all issues pertaining to construction in the area, many of the suggestions put forth by the NY Building Congress.

“We continue to fully support the Building Congress,” Harvey says. “They are doing a good job of raising the bar. This is a great initiative.”

Useful Sources

Considerate Constructors Scheme http://www.ccscheme.org.uk/

Brooklyn Bridge Park http://www.brooklynbridgeparknyc.org/

Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center http://www.lowermanhattan.info/