By Frank Fortino When Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed Local Law 26 of 2004 on June 24, 2004, the 15-year compliance deadline for the sprinkler requirement seemed like an eternity. All office buildings 100 feet or more in height had until July 1, 2019, to install a full sprinkler system. Today,… View more
By Chanel Diaz As the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) works toward greater efficiency and transparency, owners and design professionals need to take a more active role in the filing process. For many, this increased involvement requires registering an online account with DOB. DOB NOW, the agency’s new project… View more
By Gretchen Albrycht Effective August 28, 2017, the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) requires that all new Antenna and Curb Cut applications must go through DOB NOW: Build, the agency’s interactive, web-based filing system. Any applications submitted through HUB as part of New Building or Alteration Type 1 filings… View more
By Frank Fortino Last month, the New York City Council approved a rezoning plan designed to help East Midtown upgrade its outdated office space. The deal—four years in the making—marks the first time that the City Planning Commission has offered a way for developers to demolish and rebuild an overbuilt building… View more
By Alex Rippere It’s no secret that buildings are responsible for one-third of total energy consumption in the U.S. economy, and understanding ways to lower that consumption has been driving energy codes since 1975, with the release of ASHRAE Standard 90. Energy consumption is most easily understood in terms of dollars… View more
By Renee Sosnowski Did you know that New York City offers a violation penalty settlement program for defaulted and docketed violations that have not yet gone into collections? The program is managed by the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH), formerly known as the Environmental Control Board (ECB). OATH: Upholding… View more
By Mario Aurioso In case you missed it, the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) has added a new requirement for its online inspection system, DOB NOW: Inspections. All licensed professionals, including licensed master plumbers (LMPs), must upload a completed DPL-1 form when requesting inspections and submitting inspection results. The… View more