Stefan Gjoni is a partner at Ace Project Management.
As a partner at a construction management company in New York City, I’ve experienced firsthand the city’s strict regulations on not just developing new buildings but also maintaining existing ones.
To maintain the safety of all parties, it’s vital that construction professionals in New York City and other parts of the world work carefully to maintain code compliance, particularly as they undertake facade repairs.
The Risks That Can Accompany Facade Repairs
Facade repairs are one of the most common construction activities in the Big Apple. According to data published in January 2022 by the New York City Independent Budget Office, between 2001 and 2021, the number of sidewalk sheds (“temporary structures that cover New York City sidewalks to protect pedestrians and property against falling debris”) in Brooklyn almost doubled. Moreover, the organization found that most of the city’s facade-related sheds were older than a year.
Facade repairs on buildings are inherently challenging in a heavily populated area like New York City, where busy sidewalks are par for the course; there’s foot traffic virtually around the clock. And when facade repairs are done on occupied buildings, there’s an additional layer of complexity—occupants must also be kept safe at all times. Safety is paramount. Pedestrians, building occupants and construction workers should never be in harm’s way while these repairs are happening.
In New York City, there are strict requirements from various governing bodies around this type of repair. My experience has shown me that these compliance measures are in place for good reason. The people in charge didn’t wake up one day and implement them on a whim.
A facade collapse can be fatal, whether it is spurred by weakened infrastructure that has yet to be repaired or by activities that occur during a repair. For instance, The Architect’s Newspaper reported that in 2019, a piece of “terra-cotta facade” fell from a “17-story tower near Times Square,” killing architect Erica Tishman. The commercial real estate firm in charge of the building “had already received an emergency citation for facade repairs in April of that year,” and although it had “filed permits to begin repairs in October and November of 2019, there was still no scaffolding in place by December.”
Challenges Construction Stakeholders Must Navigate During Facade Repairs
The tragic death of Erica Tishman was due to a lack of facade repair, but without proper measures in place, such incidents could happen during these repairs, which is why construction stakeholders must carefully adhere to all construction standards and codes, which have a series of challenges associated with them.
Following these rules to the letter involves stakeholders determining how they’ll deliver construction materials on site (and when), managing noise and dust levels, avoiding tools and debris falling onto the street, providing access to next-door businesses, protecting glass windows and keeping existing AC units up and running, to name several examples. While staying in compliance with these rules is expensive and time-consuming, it is imperative to do so for the safety of all parties involved.
Getting Code Compliance Right During Facade Repairs And Beyond
Whether they’re planning for facade repairs or other construction work in New York City or elsewhere, stakeholders in this industry should take several steps to get code compliance right.
First, I recommend that all construction professionals, at a minimum, familiarize themselves with the various building codes and code compliance processes in their jurisdictions. Ideally, they should become experts on those topics. A thorough understanding of the codes is the foundation for following them 100% of the time. Firms breaking ground in new geographic areas should consider hiring consultants familiar with those locations’ unique laws.
To remain productive and compliant, stakeholders should consider every construction project unique. No two projects are ever the same, even if they are next door to each other. Every manager and every other employee on the ground has a distinct set of issues to deal with at any given time. Before starting and throughout every project, construction leaders should strive to understand who is on the field, what specific challenges those individuals might face (or are facing) and what they can do to better assist them.
This brings me to my next point: Planning is key. Construction leaders simply cannot start projects without planning, especially in a place like New York City. My experience has shown me that often, planning constitutes 90% of the work that goes into a project. If construction stakeholders properly plan projects, they are less likely to face issues down the line—putting themselves in a better position to finish projects on time, benefiting everyone involved.
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