New Floodwalls and Floodgates Ensure Metropolitan Hospital Can Withstand a One-in-500 Year Storm
NEW YORK, NY – STV, a leading professional services firm that plans, designs and manages infrastructure projects across North America, joined NYC Health + Hospitals – the nation’s largest municipal health system – the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and community members to celebrate the completion of the Metropolitan Hospital Floodwall Resilience Project in East Harlem. The new flood protection system is a key part of NYC Health + Hospitals’ Climate Resilience Plan, a comprehensive program to better protect healthcare infrastructure following Superstorm Sandy.
Since the program’s creation in 2016, STV has served as the program manager administering all aspects of a $1.7 billion capital construction program at four NYC Health + Hospitals facilities that were damaged by Superstorm Sandy, including the new Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospital at Coney Island in South Brooklyn. As Project Manager/Construction Manager (PM/CM) at Metropolitan Hospital, STV supported the design and construction of a resilient flood wall and storm water detention tank system that can accommodate rising flood levels and protect critical infrastructure on the hospital campus. The project also included electrical repairs and pre-connections for critical systems in the event of severe weather.
“New Yorkers’ health depends on implementing critical stormwater infrastructure, so hospitals can keep staff and patients safe while continuing to serve the community,” Andrew Eckl, CCM, CHC and senior project manager at STV. “By integrating sustainable and resilient solutions, we’re addressing current needs while preparing the community for the future.”
New 8-to-12-foot-high floodwalls were constructed to protect the hospital from future flooding events, avoid costly repairs and ensure staff can continue serving patients. With floodgates of up to 45 feet wide, Metropolitan Hospital can now withstand a one-in-500-year storm event. Improvements were also made to Metropolitan Hospital’s public spaces with the creation of a picnic area along First Avenue, in addition to new public seating and landscaping around the campus to create a welcoming environment for Metropolitan’s staff and patients.
STV has partnered with healthcare clients to provide a full suite of programming, architectural and engineering design, as well as program, project and construction management. The firm’s healthcare expertise entails management of entire capital improvement portfolios to individual projects that include staff augmentation, infrastructure upgrades, hospital campus expansions and completion of new facilities. STV’s industry leaders expand upon best practices for critical facilities to improve disaster resilience for the communities hospitals serve. Most recently, the firm was recognized by the Engineering News-Record’s regional best projects program for program management at NYC Health + Hospital’s Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospital.
