The renovation of 370 Jay Street building for NYU in downtown Brooklyn recognizes the importance of sustainable practices in construction through adaptive re-use. Updates to the façade and mechanical systems has reduced the building’s historical energy footprint while keeping the former 1950’s MTA  building character within the neighborhood aesthetic. The building will now serve as a new education and research center for the expanding media and digital technology programs and urban science research-based disciplines at NYU. The building also includes outreach programs such as CUSP  Citizen Science and Tandon’s K-12 STEM Education programs designed to engage with the local community. 

After a complete study of the existing building condition and envelope, where options up to full replacement of the facade were considered, NYU selected to update the windows and mechanical systems to reduce the building energy use without removing the original stone cladding. New high performance custom windows were designed in consideration of the building orientation to maximize daylighting on the large floor plates while reducing glare and improving user comfort. The windows strategically step back from the plane of the stone as the sun exposure becomes more direct at the southern end of the building. Additionally varied depths of brise-soleil horizontal exterior louvers are used to provide shading at working surfaces while simultaneously directing light upward through  “clearstory” glazing at each window opening. At the ground level a renovated storefront with fritted glass canopy provides revitalized retail space along Jay Street while the inverted corner at the northeast corner building directs access to the academic program floors above. 

Heintges provided building envelope consulting services during all phases of design and construction.