Media contact:
Heather West, 612-724-8760, heather@heatherwestpr.com
Damaged in the 9/11 attacks, CUNY’s new Fiterman Hall
features Wausau’s high-performance curtainwall
Wausau, Wis. (June 2013) – The City University of New York’s (CUNY’s)
Borough of Manhattan Community College’s opened the Miles and Shirley
Fiterman Hall at the beginning of the 2012-13 academic year. It replaces the
original Fiterman Hall, which was irreparably damaged when World Trade 7
fell against it in the attacks of September 11, 2001. The new facility offers
students the latest in educational technologies, first-class amenities and
expansive views of New York City framed with high-performance curtainwall
from Wausau Window and Wall Systems.
After a 10-year construction process, Fiterman Hall opened in August 2012.
The 14-floor building was designed by renowned architectural firm Pei Cobb
Freed & Partners and built by Hunter Roberts Construction Group. The new
facility was certified under New York State Executive Order 111, which
requires overall energy and sustainability improvements, with similar criteria to the U.S. Green Building
Systems’ LEED® certification.
Fiterman Hall’s student capacity tripled to nearly 25,000 students with the new 400,000-square-foot
facility. The building’s most distinctive areas include its two-story glass atria on the north and south sides
of the building. Each has stacked atrium spaces with interconnecting, open, spiral stairs and student
lounge areas. The atria house a fine arts center, a public café, and an interior grand staircase that ascends
from the lobby to the fourth floor.
Students praised the windows as they were welcomed into the building. Criminal justice major,
Shamisa Anthony, noted that Fiterman Hall “gives you that feeling of success. It’s a very classy
building, with the huge windows and the view, also with the open ceilings, and the unusual shape of
the lobby areas.”
“I love the view,” said science major, Kiran Iftikhar. “I think it’s amazing. I can see the whole city.
It’s more fun to learn in a nice environment.”
Extrapolating on the idea of a red brick schoolhouse in a modern, urban, business district, Fiterman Hall’s
southern façade showcases precast panels with architectural brick complemented by the openness and
transparency of glass and aluminum-framed curtainwall. Helping translate this vision, Wausau
manufactured and shipped nearly 71,000-square feet of unitized curtainwall for installation by Staten
Island, N.Y.-based glazing contractor Genetech Building Systems, Inc.
According to Genetech’s president, Greg Tedesco, selecting Wausau from the three specified vendors was
an easy decision: “I’ve worked with Wausau for nearly 25 years and have always had a good experience
with their product and engineering support. The products, the people and the customer service are all very
strong. Wausau may not always have the lowest price, but they always provide the best value.”
(more)
Engineered for high thermal performance, Wausau’s 7250i-UW and 10250i-UW Series curtainwall are
optimized for energy efficiency with a polyamide nylon structural barrier. These unitized systems are
manufactured in ready-to-install units that span vertically from floor-to-floor. Along with saving time and
labor in the field, this approach reduces dependence on weather seals and accommodates dynamic
movements without placing undue stress on glass, sealants or other infills. As the curtainwall units are
pre-glazed under controlled conditions at Wausau’s LEED Silver-certified manufacturing center, rather
than at the job site, customers can be confident that the systems achieve their intended performance.
Wausau also provided its 3250 Series windows as fixed over in-swing units for Fiterman Hall’s second
floor workspace area. These windows are rated as AAMA AW-70 Performance Class and are labeled by
the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) for energy performance. Viracon supplied the
insulating, Low-E glass for both the windows and the curtainwall.
Beyond high thermal performance to meet energy-efficiency needs, Wausau’s systems’ composition
supports New York’s environmental and sustainability goals. The curtainwall and windows’ aluminum
frames contain recycled content averaging 70% or greater. The recycled aluminum framing is painted by
Linetec in a gray for the shadow box metal and Champagne Metallic for the curtainwall. Both use a
Duranar® XL fluoropolymer coating containing a minimum of 70% PVDF resin. This three-coat system
meets requirements of AAMA 2605, the most stringent, high-performance specification for architectural
coatings, to withstand the urban environment and maintain the college’s enduring high-profile appearance.
On Fiterman Hall’s interior, students and faculty have access to 80 technologically advanced “smart”
classrooms and computer laboratories, offices, library spaces, music ensemble rooms, a rooftop
conference center and terrace. On the breezy terrace in September 2012, a Recognition Ceremony
honored key individuals who made the construction possible. CUNY’s chancellor, Matthew Goldstein,
said during the event, “As I stand in this marvelous space, I can’t stop thinking sometimes dreams really
do come true; light can emerge from the dark.”
BMCC’s president, Dr. Antonio Pérez, moderated the event and remarked, “On 9/11, when 7 World
Trade fell against Fiterman Hall, the face of Lower Manhattan changed forever. Our friends made the
rebuilding happen. …BMCC is part of a community that cares deeply about every individual who
comes here to learn.”
New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who led the
World Trade Center Redevelopment Committee and worked closely
with Manhattan’s Community Board 1, was a special honoree at the
ceremony. “Through an open and thoughtful procedure, we guided the
construction of a new Fiterman Hall --that’s how we do it in New
York. This project was done the right way, the best way, and is a
shining example of Lower Manhattan’s inspiring rebirth. I’m proud to
have had a part in getting the job done.”
Miles and Shirley Fiterman Hall 245 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007;
http://www.bmcc.cuny.edu/fitermanhall
* Owner: City University of New York, Borough of Manhattan Community College; http://www.bmcc.cuny.edu
* Architect: Pei Cobb Freed & Partners Architects, New York; http://www.pcf-p.com
* General contractor: Hunter Roberts Construction Group, New York; http://www.hunterrobertscg.com
* Glazing contractor: Genetech Building Systems, Inc., Staten Island, N.Y.; http://www.
http://www.genetechsys.com
* Glazing systems – manufacturer: Wausau Window and Wall Systems; Wausau, Wis.;
http://www.wausauwindow.com
* Glazing systems - glazing: Viracon; Owatonna, Minn.; http://www.viracon.com
* Glazing systems – finisher: Linetec, Wausau, Wis.; http://www.linetec.com
CUNY BMCC newsroom and videos:
http://www.bmcc.cuny.edu/news/news.jsp?id=8979
http://www.bmcc.cuny.edu/news/news.jsp?id=9024
Online photo gallery: http://www.bmcc.cuny.edu/fitermanhall/photo.jsp
Nationally recognized for its innovative expertise, Wausau Window and Wall Systems is an industry leader in
engineering window and curtainwall systems for commercial and institutional construction applications. For more
than 55 years, Wausau has worked closely with architects, building owners and contractors to realize their vision
for aesthetic beauty, sustainability and lasting value, while striving to maintain the highest level of customer service,
communication and overall satisfaction. Wausau is a part of Apogee Enterprises, Inc., a publicly held, U.S.
corporation.
Wausau and its staff are members of the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA), the American
Institute of Architects (AIA), the APPA – Leadership in Educational Facilities, the Construction Specifications
Institute (CSI), Glass Association of North America (GANA), the National Fenestration Ratings Council (NFRC)
and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
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