Get the latest code, zoning and compliance news and insights from Metropolis Group.
Department of Buildings / Industry News
By Penny Laughlin The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) has added a new requirement for projects involving earthwork, or excavation, as of May 1, 2017. If you’ve done any excavation in the five boroughs, then you already know ...
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By Frank Fortino This month we’re taking a closer look at the options and requirements of Affordable New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo’s replacement for the 421a tax abatement. The affordable New York housing program applies to eligible projects containing six ...
Read MoreInspections
By Austin Regan To better protect the public and ensure good construction practices, the NYC DOB plan review has been created with several specialized inspection units. Areas of specialty include foundation/excavation and concrete placement—critical structural elements. In the past, inspection ...
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By Frank Fortino As the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) begins the challenge of revising the construction codes, the agency continues to develop and improve DOB NOW. Notably, as with the code revisions, DOB is now working with ...
Read MoreCase Studies / Company News
By Robert Proffitt, R.A. A partnership with Kean University and Grimshaw has brought Metropolis Group out of the concrete jungle and into the bucolic woods of northern New Jersey. While many Metropolis projects involve challenges due to the population density ...
Read MoreDepartment of Buildings / Industry News / Violations
By Renee Sosnowski Effective Wednesday, May 10, 2017, the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) has let NYC expediters know that it’s adopted a new Buildings Penalties Schedule. Rule Relocation The new rule relocates the DOB Penalty Schedule from ...
Read MoreEnergy Efficiency
By George Crawford If you’re a permit expediter, then you know that commercial and residential building owners need to brace for the impending perfect storm—namely, higher NYC taxes and utilities, coupled with lower rents—heading straight for their bottom lines. While ...
Read MoreCode & Zoning / Energy Code
By Alex Rippere Courtesy of Local Law 87 of 2009, and codified in the 2014 Construction Codes, the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) requires Energy Efficiency Reports (EERs) on all buildings over 50,000 square feet or for multiple ...
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By Frank Fortino It’s official. The NYC expediting industry has its new 421a. This past weekend, New York legislators in both the Assembly and the Senate approved “Affordable New York.” The Affordable New York legislation went into effect on Monday, ...
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By Austin Regan Once the exclusive domain of air conditioning equipment and pigeon coops, building rooftops are now prized amenities. Developers market their buildings based on the views from outdoor spaces and the amenities those spaces hold. While a usable ...
Read MoreCase Studies / Company News
By Robert Proffitt, R.A. Last year, energy management experts at Bright Power and architects at Thread Collective approached Metropolis Group for assistance with a pilot program in Brooklyn: creating a solar-powered electrical grid in an urban environment. Our experience with ...
Read MoreCode & Zoning / Energy Code
By Alex Rippere While previous articles have covered 2016 New York City Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC) changes regarding building envelope and HVAC performance, one key area not addressed is lighting. The energy code has always set requirements for lighting controls ...
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