New Bethel Way of the Cross Church

New York, NY

Designed by Michael Bernstein in 1900, New Bethel Way of the Cross Church is a landmark-quality religious property, originally built as a synagogue and later used as a church, starting in the 1930s. Located on the north side of West 118th Street between Fifth Avenue and Malcolm X Boulevard in Harlem, the building was listed in the State and National Registries of Historic Properties in 2015. 

At that time, the current congregation, which has owned the property since the 1990s, reached out to us to prepare an Existing Conditions Report with recommendations for exterior repairs. Our report included priorities and a cost estimate of the required exterior repairs. We subsequently prepared Construction Documents for the installation of a new HVAC system and exterior repairs.

To improve the congregation’s comfort year-round, with minimum alterations to the character of the historic interiors, we recommended and designed a practical, discrete intervention for the new HVAC system. The equipment was installed above the ceiling of existing auxiliary spaces adjacent to the sanctuary, and new ductwork was pierced along the cavity between the balcony floors and the top of the suspended plaster ceilings on the side aisles.  

We also led the HVAC installation through the bidding and negotiation and Construction Administration phases and oversaw the phased implementation of the exterior repairs.

Client
New Bethel Way of the Cross Church                                   

Services
Existing Conditions Assessment; Construction Documents, Bidding and Negotiation and Construction Administration services for HVAC installation and Exterior Repairs

Project Team
Structural Engineer: Carey Ngai Consulting Engineers, PLLC
M/E/P Engineer: AK Engineering, PC                            

Size
7,600 SF

Completion
HVAC Installation: 2019
Exterior Repairs Phase I: 2020