The obstacles were numerous: constructing a 60-bed annex on a small, triangular plot of land, adhering to prevailing wage labor regulations, managing delays from the COVID-19 pandemic, and staying within a tight budget. Despite these challenges, Posen Architects, LLC successfully navigated every hurdle to complete a three-story addition to a residential substance abuse treatment facility on Wards Island, New York.
The project, funded by the New York Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) through the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY), aimed to expand the existing Odyssey House facility. This not-for-profit organization provides behavioral health treatment services to women and children, as well as both male and female adults struggling with substance abuse.
The need for additional space became evident in 2016 when administrators at Odyssey House realized they required more room for adolescent males after completing renovations to their 300-bed facility. Posen Architects, which specializes in designing residential and outpatient treatment centers throughout New York State, won the bid. The firm has designed over 30 such projects and is currently working on nearly a dozen more, according to Kosta Koulouris, AIA, a partner at the firm.
“Some of these projects were built from the ground up, while others were renovations,” Kosta explained. “The Wards Island Annex project presented unique challenges but also sparked great interest.”
Posen’s first step was to conduct a study to determine how best to fit the annex on the oddly-shaped site. The firm’s design was quickly approved, but the project was delayed when it was discovered that the area had ground issues that took three years to be remediated.
By 2019, when the project went out for bids, construction costs had surged, pushing the budget over by 30%. At the state’s request, Posen was tasked with value engineering the design and rebidding the project. Despite their efforts, the savings amounted to only $2million. On top of that, the COVID-19 pandemic led to further delays and rising costs.
“In discussing options, someone suggested off-site modular construction,” Kosta said. “So, we redesigned the entire project to be modular and partnered with MODLOGIQ, a company in Pennsylvania specializing in unique off-site construction methods.”
MODLOGIQ, with its innovative approach, builds entire structures inside its expansive facility in New Holland, PA. After construction, the modules are disassembled, transported, and reassembled on-site, which eliminates weather-related delays and material spoilage.
The modular construction method also saved a significant amount of time. The 71 modular units were built in just 10 months, and the disassembly, transport, and reassembly took only 10 days, resulting in an overall construction timeline of less than 11 months.
The completed Annex includes a dining room, kitchen, and administrative spaces on the first floor. The second and third floors feature 30 bedrooms, counseling areas, a nurse’s office, large lounge spaces, and staff offices.
“It was all quite remarkable,” Kosta remarked. “The quality of construction is so high that you can’t distinguish between modular and traditional methods. State officials who toured the site were extremely pleased with the results.”
At Posen Architects, we take pride in our ability to overcome complex challenges and deliver innovative, high-quality solutions, ensuring that every project, no matter the obstacles, meets the needs of our clients and communities.