A contractor representing The Hotel at Fifth Avenue hired me to prepare rebar and steel shop drawings for the rehabilitation of their sidewalk vault.
My name is Brian M. Curran, and I’ve been creating rebar shop drawings and steel shop drawings for over 18 years. Below is an overview of this project. And if you need shop drawings for an upcoming project, I can create them for you.
Sidewalk Vault Rehab Project Description
The project involved correcting hazardous structural conditions at the West 32nd Street façade of 17 West 32nd Street, also known as The Hotel at Fifth Avenue, a designated New York City Individual Landmark. The building is pictured above.
Over time, several unpermitted alterations had been made at the building entrance and sidewalk vault, including the installation of a non-operational chairlift device and the construction of stone-clad concrete stairs. These conditions required removal and replacement as part of a broader rehabilitation effort.
The scope of work included removing the existing stairs and chairlift, reconstructing the sidewalk vault beneath the public sidewalk with new structural steel framing and concrete, and installing new untinted concrete sidewalk paving. Portions of this work extended onto landmark-designated property, requiring review and approval by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission.
At the building entrance, the front stairs were reconstructed using granite treads and risers with a bullnose profile. While matching the existing projection from the façade, the new stair configuration reintroduced curved ends that reflect the building’s original early-20th-century footprint. Simple metal handrails were installed at both sides and attached to historically altered portions of the façade to minimize visual impact.
Associated interior work was also performed at the cellar level beneath the sidewalk vault, where structural conditions affected the building’s boiler room and supporting elements.
The building itself was originally constructed between 1902 and 1904 in the Beaux-Arts style. The entrance configuration had been altered multiple times over the past century, including changes made in the early 1900s that modified the original stair and areaway layout. This project aimed to address current structural and safety concerns while respecting the historic character of the building and restoring key elements of its original entrance design.
The Landmarks Preservation Commission reviewed the proposed work and approved it as compliant with NYC regulations governing historic façade repair, structural restoration, material replacement, and accessibility-related handrail modifications.
Rebar Shop Drawings
The rebar shop drawings for this project were for a new 8″ structural slab cast in place on a metal deck. The slab reinforcement consisted of #5 bars at 8″ O.C. in one direction and #8 bars at 8″ O.C. in the opposite direction. The metal deck was 2″ × 18 gauge, Vulcraft or approved equal, FY +50 KSI.
Below are my rebar shop drawings for the project. Click on the image to launch a PDF set of the drawings.
Steel Shop Drawings
The steel shop drawings for this project covered the steel beams supporting the concrete sidewalk slab. The beams were W10×45, spaced 8′-0″ on center, and supported at each end by beam pockets. The tops of the beams were welded with 3/4″ diameter, 5″ long headed studs at 1′-0″ O.C. These studs integrated the beams with the concrete slab, penetrating through the metal decking so that, once the slab was poured, the beams and slab would act together as a structural system.
Below are my steel shop drawings for the project. Click on the image to launch a PDF set of the drawings.
Contact
I’m Brian, owner of DraftingServices.com LLC. Based in New York City, I handle rebar and steel shop drawing projects nationwide. Let’s discuss your upcoming project. Contact me today at 718.441.3968, text me today at 646.504.5230, or email me today at brian@draftingservices.com.