Ithaca Sub-Residency

Foit-Albert Associates, as a subconsultant under a NYSDOT Term (RDSA) contract, was charged with designing a new prototype,  esthetically pleasing sub-residency building as part of the Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization at the Ithaca Airport.

The scope of our services centered on surveying, architectural design, structural foundation, steel and wood frame design.

The main headquarters building was design with a pre-engineered building frame, utilizing modern technology such as pre-insulated metal wall and roof panels for the shell, as well as innovative design for borrowed light through a continuous clerestory window, and utilization of photovoltaic roof panels. Foit-Albert’s Structural Engineering team designed and prepared plans for the foundation and supporting framework to coordinate with the pre-engineered building structure.

Architectural challenges included the design of a new prototypical sub-residency, seamlessly utilizing new building technologies while also retaining the required functionality desired by the Department of Transportation.  Structural challenges encountered included the pre-engineered building design size, having to tie one side of the foundation to the other with heavy rebar bracing, due to the size and load being imposed by the pre-engineered clear span frame.

A pre-engineered wood storage building was also designed for the project by the architectural team, and close coordination of the salt storage content and design details was important for the successful outcome of what would otherwise be a simple wood structure with a lean-to storage area.  The wood salt-storage building was aesthetically treated to coincide with the sub-residency structure immediately adjacent on the site.