Photo: L&L Holding Company
Photo: L&L Holding Company
Record, this is by far the most complex project he has been involved in during his three decades in the industry. To navigate these challenges, Mandara and his team are working with agencies such as the Depart- ment of Buildings, the Landmarks Preservation Commission, and the Times Square Alliance. Additionally, because there is a subway stop on the property, MTA and the Department of Transportation have also been involved in the project. Despite potential communication breakdowns that often come on projects involving this many parties, Mandara notes that this hasn’t been an issue during the TSX Broadway project. Mandara points out that these agencies were eager to embrace the project and provide help when needed. On one hand, there are obvious challenges that come from working with a historic structure that includes preserving things like plaster details in the theater. On the other hand, there is another level of com- plexity added when that historic structure is inside another building. During the 1980s and 90s, parts of the Palace Theatre were demolished for the construction of the DoubleTree Suites Times Square Hotel. The Palace Theatre was reopened in 1991 within the new hotel, which was its home until the TSX Broadway development began in 2019. This posed another early challenge for the project according to Mandara. Due to zoning restrictions, the collective team opted to make the project an alteration of the existing structure rather than a complete demolition and rebuild, which allowed them to retain the structure’s original structure’s overbuilt condition. This meant that their plan had to keep at least 25 percent of the existing floor area from the original structure, which Mandara says was a primary focus from the project’s earliest iterations. Although the team opted not to demolish the entire structure, there was still plenty of debris from the sections that were removed. Mandara says that, on a normal construction project, the demolition process is relatively straightforward. However, because the project is located in one of the most heavily trafficked areas in the world, crews are per - forming demolition inside the building during the day while at night the material is being brought down to the base and removed via truck. While this requires planning to support 24-hours of work, it also avoids costly closures and shutdowns while simultaneously distancing the public from the demolition process. With the Palace Theatre space lifted into its position, work is progressing at the scheduled pace for the TSX Broadway development. From the
symphony of movement to the attention to detail to its sheer scale, there is quite a bit that makes the TSX Broadway project unique, but perhaps the most unique feature of this new project is its ability to enhance the visitor numbers and experience to the space while also preserving its cultural legacy. And–just as the backstage, hustle, sweat, and coordina- tion are transformed into a cultural product that adds to the fabric of our history–so too will the work being done on the TSX Broadway project add to that same history in a way that enhances our understanding.
LUKE CAROTHERS is the Editor for Civil + Structural Engineer Media. If you want us to cover your project or want to feature your own article, he can be reached at lcarothers@zweiggroup.com.
Photo: L&L Holding Company
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October 2022 csengineermag.com
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