ENR 2024 New York Best Projects
Best Project, Renovation/Restoration: Victory Lofts
Photo courtesy LeChase Construction Services LLC
Victory Lofts
Johnson City, N.Y.
BEST PROJECT
Submitted by: LeChase Construction Services LLC
Owner: Paulus Development
Lead Design Firm: VIP Structures
Construction Manager: LeChase Construction Services LLC
Civil Engineer: Keplinger Freeman Associates
Structural Engineer: John P. Stopen Engineering LLP
MEP Engineer: IPD Engineering
Demolition and Abatement Subcontractor: Lion Construction Supply & Services LLC
Named in the 1920s as a tribute to allied forces’ triumph in World War I, the Endicott Johnson Victory Shoe Factory was long a symbol of local pride and prosperity. With passing time, however, the 275,000-sq-ft building’s fortunes faded. Closing in the 1960s, the factory was then used for vehicle storage for 20 years before being abandoned entirely. Since then, the facility had deteriorated into a local eyesore and dumping ground for trash and old vehicles.
Recent growth of nearby Binghamton University and UHS Wilson Medical Center spurred renewed interest in reuse of the building—leading to a $40-million redevelopment effort that addressed numerous issues with its past uses.
Photo courtesy LeChase Construction Services LLC
Leather straps that had been used as floor cushion in the shoe manufacturing area had decayed to spawn an “interior ecosystem” of grass, trees and mold, according to the submission. The building’s structural integrity was also a major concern due to a non-uniform concrete mixture that contained pockets of sand, as well as large holes that had been cut into floor slabs to install ramps for storing vehicles.
To maintain schedule, the project team performed interior hazardous material abatement and demolition concurrent with external cleanup, which included replacing about 230 tons of tainted soil with vapor barriers and new fill.
Photo courtesy LeChase Construction Services LLC
Dozens of deteriorated support columns were reinforced with rebar or recast, while the building’s iconic stone-inlay V, distinctive sawtooth roof, large factory doors and handcrafted pillars underwent full restoration. The project team also sorted and recycled leftover factory equipment, construction scraps, vehicles and other refuse—ultimately diverting more than 500 tons of metal from landfills.
Today, the restored building offers more than 150 market-rate apartments, each with distinctive 10-ft by 50-ft windows that offer abundant sunlight and stunning views. Exposed concrete ceilings, concrete beams and exposed brick add to the industrial feel.
Photo courtesy LeChase Construction Services LLC
Amenities include 70,000 sq ft of retail space, a ground-floor parking garage, fitness area and pet spa.
Along with installing new gas, water and sewer lines to serve the apartments, the project team also upgraded infrastructure to homes and businesses within a one-mile radius around the site.
