Each module of the prison facility contains 50 cells that share common areas. Within these modules are the individual cell units, measuring 11 feet by seven feet. Between 20 and 30 of these double-cell units were hoisted into place each day. Photos: S. Barker.
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Precasters:
A. Rotondo & Sons Inc.
Blakeslee Prestress Inc.
Owner:
NYC Department of Correction, New York City
Architect:
STV/Silver & Ziskind, New York City
Contractor:
Sea Crest Construction Corp., Freeport, N.Y.
Structural Engineer:
STV Incorporated, New York City
Specialty Engineer:
The Consulting Engineers Group Inc.
Construction Engineer:
CRSS Constructors Inc., New York City
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When New York City decided it needed space for 500 more prisoners in its massive Rikers Island facility, it allowed 600 days - 20 months - to bring the new building from concept to completion. To maintain this fast schedule, the architect specified precast concrete not only for the modular cells but also for the beams, columns, planking, and decking.
"Corrections projects are driven by tremendous time pressures; they seem never able to catch up," said Paul Silver, a principal in the architectural firm of STV/Silver & Ziskind of New York City. "The only way we could get that type of accelerated construction was to have an assembly system at the site rather than conventional construction." After all, he notes, the time frame was three years less than the state's typical schedule for constructing a building this size.
The facility, an addition to the George R. Vierno Center, consists essentially of 100 percent precast components. This means that the precast provided both interior and exterior walls simultaneously, Silver notes, "and we got a very attractive building. Precast cut our construction time by 50 percent."
The new facility, part of a maximum-security lockup, was built to relieve prison overcrowding in the New York metropolitan area. Two separate structures were erected, one six stories tall with 300 cells and the other four stories high with 200 cells. In each module, a total of 50 cells on two levels share a common day room, which includes showers, laundry, telephones, interview rooms, a dispensary, and separate television area for privileged inmates. A central control area is situated between two 50-cell units. Each building is 320 feet long and 66 feet wide, and each cell is 11 feet by seven feet. Costing about $100 million, the project was completed 26 days ahead of schedule.
Precast Offered Best Option
This new addition to the Vierno Center marks the first use of precast concrete on Rikers Island, New York City's prison system, according to Robert Skallerup, a principal in the architectural firm. "We could not interfere with other activities on the island, so we had to tip-toe between them," Skallerup says. "We had to find the most advantageous methodology. Precast provided the greatest design latitude and best fabrication and delivery. I'm convinced that anyone who approached the job differently would not have been as successful."
During construction, between 20 and 30 double-cell units were brought onto the site and erected each day. Mechanical, plumbing, and electrical trades were able to quickly connect the units as others were being assembled. A light, sandblasted finish was applied to the façade and cells, producing a maintenance-free exterior and significantly reducing operating costs.
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