State Supreme Courthouse in Manhattan Receiving Energy Efficiency Upgrade by M/WBE Contractor

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State Supreme Courthouse in Manhattan Receiving Energy Efficiency Upgrade by M/WBE Contractor

Work by ACS System Associates, Inc. Will Reduce Energy Costs
by $630,000 Annually

DDC: Shoshana Khan, 718-391-1251, KhanSho@ddc.nyc.govf

(New York, NY – May 1, 2019) A certified M/WBE contractor working for the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) is completing an $11 million energy efficiency retrofit at the State Supreme Court building at 60 Centre Street in Manhattan that will result in cost savings of $630,000 each year. DDC is managing the project for the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS).

New York State Supreme Court’s 200-foot rotunda on the main floor contains ten stained glass windows

Contractor ACS System Associates, Inc. of Mount Vernon, NY specializes in mechanical services including heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC). The firm holds contracts with several local agencies, including for work on City schools, at wastewater treatment plants and at local airports, and is a certified Minority Business Enterprise for both New York City and New York State.

“Companies like ACS demonstrate the high-quality work performed by M/WBEs and other emerging businesses,” said DDC Commissioner Lorraine Grillo. “We encourage firms that meet the M/WBE criteria to become M/WBE certified and to take full advantage of the educational and networking opportunities that DDC provides to help them do business with the City as either a general or subcontractor.”

“ACS System Associates, Inc. has done plenty of energy conservation projects throughout New York and approximately fifty percent of our revenue comes from the M/WBE program,” said ACS System Associates, Inc. Owner and President Ahmad Reyaz. “We are appreciative of the opportunity to optimize the energy usage of the New York State Supreme Court Building’s technology for future generations.”

Three new chilled water plants were installed by crane through sidewalk access panels that lead to the basement of the Courthouse

The Courthouse was completed in 1927 and was designated a City landmark in 1966. The building’s chilled water production plant was antiquated, inefficient and working beyond its useful lifespan. The building’s electrical system was also out-of-date and inefficient.

Undertaken as part of the City’s OneNYC initiative, three new 400-ton chillers will be installed and the cooling tower will be replaced, which is part of a closed loop chilled water circulation system serving 69 air handling units ranging in size from 1,200 to 18,000 cubic feet per minute (CFM). There will be six new 1,200-gallon-per-minute water pumps installed.

The new HVAC and air handling equipment features modern controls that can change operation based on temperature and level of carbon dioxide in the building. New damper actuators will ensure the system can use outdoor air to condition interior spaces without having to heat or cool internal air. All new equipment such as refrigeration machines, pumps and fans are also fitted with variable frequency drives to meet energy conservation code requirements.

Improvements to the electrical system include 200 LED fixtures plus 490 light sensors that will reduce unnecessary light usage. To optimize HVAC usage, there will be 120 wireless thermostats. Overall, the upgrades will save an average of 2.3 million kilowatt hours of electricity and 7.2 million pounds of steam each year, resulting in over $630,000 of savings annually.

DDC is the leading mayoral agency in the City’s M/WBE program, having made more than $1.8 billion in contract awards to M/WBEs since 2015. DDC’s M/WBE utilization rate in the City’s most recent fiscal year was 22.9%. Over the past four years the DDC Office of Diversity & Industry Relations has hosted 24 and attended more than 150 procurement events, engaging almost 12,000 vendors, including 6,029 M/WBEs.

Contractors or M/WBEs seeking more information about DDC programs and contracting opportunities should contact the DDC Office of Diversity & Industry Relations at DDCODIR@ddc.nyc.gov

About the NYC Department of Design and Construction
The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor de Blasio’s long-term vision of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, and new or upgraded roads, sewers and water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $12 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to City projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.