Egress Plan showing Place of Assembly

Place of Assemby Reconsideration

215 Lexington Avenue:

• Alterations to Street Floor Lobby for new double-height corner entry
• Conversion of 2nd & 3rd floors from ‘Showrooms & Offices’ to ‘School’

Client: Yeshiva University
Architect: SLCE Architects
General Contractor: Bovis Lend Lease
Location: 215 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Building Type: 21-story mixed-use building (Offices and School)

For Yeshiva University’s Midtown Campus, they approached SLCE Architects to provide an open, modern design for their 2nd & 3rd floor classrooms. The Architect proposed an inner study lounge area, surrounded by classrooms placed along the perimeter of the floor. The classrooms, with a glazed storefront system, allow natural light to reach the inner study area, and provide the feel of a communal study environment throughout the entire space. To add to the diffuse design, open escalators interconnect the two classroom floors with one another, and with a new double-height street floor lobby.

This unique design presented a number of Code compliance issues, and necessitated a special strategy for approval. The Building Code typically requires classrooms to be separated from the adjoining corridor by 1-hour construction. In addition, the Code offers no provision to occupy corridors as study areas (with the exception of street floor lobbies).

P. Wolfe’s approach involved declaring the entire classroom and study lounge area as a Place of Assembly. This approach allowed the elimination of the rated corridor, and permitted occupancy of the open study area. Our approach was made possible by illustrating that the space, as a whole, complied with the stricter egress requirements demanded of a Place of Assembly. As a Place of Assembly, each floor is subject to an annual Fire Department inspection for emergency lighting, egress, and seating layout.

For successful execution, this project required several consultations with the Borough Commissioner (‘Reconsiderations’).

Strict Timeline:

The strict timeline for occupancy presented the final project challenge, as Yeshiva required the classroom spaces for the beginning of the ’00 Fall Semester.

P. Wolfe’s close coordination with the General Contractor, Sprinkler & Electrical Subcontractor, ensured that all Plumbing and Fire Protection signoffs were obtained on time.

Issuance of the Temporary Certificate of Occupancy and Place of Assembly permits were successfully obtained before the first day of school.

P.Wolfe’s Scope of Work included:

• ‘No Work’ Alteration Type-I for change of Occupancy/Use
• Interior Demolition Application
• Alteration Type-II for General Construction, Mechanical & Plumbing
• Sprinkler Application
• Fire Alarm Application
• Two (2) Places of Assembly applications (2nd & 3rd Floors)
• Temporary & Final Certificate of Occupancy Issuance
• Place of Assembly Permits