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Schenectady High School Master Plan

Little Falls High School Improvements

Union College Music School

FEATURED PROJECTS:Schenectady High School Master Plan | Schenectady, New YorkSchenectady High School Improvements | Schenectady, New YorkPaige Elementary School Addition | Schenectady, New YorkZoller Elementary School Addition | Schenectady, New YorkMartin Luther King Elementary Addition | Schenectady, New YorkLittle Falls High School & Middle School | Little Falls, New YorkBenton Hall Academy Improvements | Little Falls, New YorkEarly Childhood Education Center | West Haverstraw, New YorkAlternative School at Daytop Village | Washington, New YorkUnion College Music School | Schenectady, New YorkCollge of Saint Rose Dining Hall | Albany, New YorkADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE:Hamilton School Improvements | Schenectady, New YorkUtica City School District Pre-Referendum Study | Utica, New YorkYMCA Schenectady Banch & Daycare Center | Schenectady, New YorkUnion College - Abbe Hall | Schenectady, New YorkUnion College - Dormitory Residences | Schenectady, New York

Early Childhood Education Center

Helen Hayes Hospital

Alternative School at Daytop Village

College of Saint Rose Dining Hall

ARCH-EDU PORTFOLIO MATRIX-2

EDUCATION PORTFOLIO

FEATURED PROJECTS:Schenectady High School Master Plan | Schenectady, New YorkSchenectady High School Improvements | Schenectady, New YorkPaige Elementary School Addition | Schenectady, New YorkZoller Elementary School Addition | Schenectady, New YorkMartin Luther King Elementary Addition | Schenectady, New YorkLittle Falls High School & Middle School | Little Falls, New YorkBenton Hall Academy Improvements | Little Falls, New YorkEarly Childhood Education Center | West Haverstraw, New YorkAlternative School at Daytop Village | Washington, New YorkUnion College Music & Arts Facility | Schenectady, New YorkCollge of Saint Rose Dining Hall | Albany, New YorkADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE:Hamilton School Improvements | Schenectady, New YorkUtica City School District Pre-Referendum Study | Utica, New YorkYMCA Schenectady Banch & Daycare Center | Schenectady, New YorkUnion College - Abbe Hall | Schenectady, New YorkUnion College - Dormitory Residences | Schenectady, New York
ARCH-EDU PORTFOLIO MATRIX-3

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EDUCATION PORTFOLIO

FEATURED PROJECTS:Schenectady High School Master Plan | Schenectady, New YorkSchenectady High School Improvements | Schenectady, New YorkPaige Elementary School Addition | Schenectady, New YorkZoller Elementary School Addition | Schenectady, New YorkMartin Luther King Elementary Addition | Schenectady, New YorkLittle Falls High School & Middle School | Little Falls, New YorkBenton Hall Academy Improvements | Little Falls, New YorkEarly Childhood Education Center | West Haverstraw, New YorkAlternative School at Daytop Village | Washington, New YorkUnion College Music & Arts Facility | Schenectady, New YorkCollge of Saint Rose Dining Hall | Albany, New YorkADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE:Hamilton School Improvements | Schenectady, New YorkUtica City School District Pre-Referendum Study | Utica, New YorkYMCA Schenectady Banch & Daycare Center | Schenectady, New YorkUnion College - Abbe Hall | Schenectady, New YorkUnion College - Dormitory Residences | Schenectady, New York
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Schenectady High School Master Plan

Schenectady City School District

Synthesis was retained by the Schenectady City School District to prepare a Master Plan for the High School. Objectives included giving the school a sense of identity by improving it’s primary entrances, relocating buses to the rear of the building, and relocating the school’s athletic fields to accommodate site improvements. Although the plan was not executed, it was a valuable tool used in the decision-making process.By relocating buses to the rear, Synthesis was able to develop a unique entry plaza celebrating the new front entry of the school. The new bus drop-off and reconfigured staff parking area improved traffic safety by separating buses from parent drop-off areas and creating direct pedestrian linkages from the expanded parking area to the new rear entrance. To accommodate expanded parking and minimize conflicting vehicular uses, the varsity softball field and tennis courts were relocated adjacent to the varsity football stadium and the athletic building.
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Little Falls High School Improvements

Little Falls City School District

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Synthesis was selected by the Little Falls City School District to provide Architectural and Engineering services for District wide, EXCEL classified projects. The project entails various maintenance, energy, and security related upgrades at the two school facilities in the City of Little Falls. Initial tasks included analysis of problem areas in the district’s facilities, and scoping and budgeting as related to the results of that analysis. Construction is completed. The bids were under budget and the additional site improvements were approved and implemented.
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Early Childhood Education Center

Helen Hayes Hospital

West Haverstraw, New York

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Working with NYS Office of General Services, Synthesis designed a 9500 square foot, timber frame child care center on the campus of Helen Hayes Hospital, integrating the site and building to accommodate the program for 80 children. Consolidating the classrooms around a single central space allowed us to develop a simple structural design, efficient to construct, yet easy to understand, developing a rhythm and playfulness about the architecture that has been praised as both engaging for staff and children, and appropriate for a child care environment. The high roof over the center volume is supported by branch-like timbers with clerestory windows along its perimeter, allowing daylight to filter through the structure from above.
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Union College Music School
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Union College Music School

Schenectady, New York

Synthesis designed the complete interior demolition and renovation and exterior preservation of Union College’s historic North Colonnade building, one of the original Ramée campus buildings from the early 19th Century, to accommodate its growing music department and broaden the range of lecture and performance spaces on campus. A Recital Hall addition was designed and added at the rear of the building and comprised of a new 120-seat multipurpose hall for lectures, rehearsals, and recitals. It is shaped and built with materials to maximize acoustic performance. Synthesis also developed a handicapped accessible connection for all floors of the adjacent Arts Building and the new Music Building.Preservation of the existing buildings with appropriate new construction and attention to acoustic performance and noise control are highlights of the project.
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College of Saint Rose Dining Hall

Albany, New York

Synthesis provided design-build services for the renovation of an existing dining hall at the College of St. Rose in Albany, New York. As part of a design-build team, Synthesis completed design, construction documents and construction within the College’s aggressive schedule. The design solution was planned to improve convenience for students, facilitate improved circulation and improve the overall dining experience. Working with U.W. Marx Construction, the space includes new millwork, seating, lighting, flooring, and wall finishes, which create an elegant interior design solution that enhances the existing space. The result is a sophisticated environment that caters to the needs of the student population.
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Alternative School at Daytop Village

Millbrook, New York

Synthesis developed preliminary plans as well as construction bid documents for the new educational building on the campus of the William A. Schreyer Youth Center in Millbrook, New York for Daytop Village, Inc. The educational facility is designed to accommodate various developmental levels of the teenage population. Working closely with school administration, Synthesis prepared a feasibility study including program and code analysis, plans and cost estimates. This study was utilized by the Owner to secure State approval to proceed, as well as to establish the look and feel of the facility. The building was envisioned as a small-scale structure integrated within the existing Daytop Campus. The layout provides views to surrounding wooded areas which enhances the owner’s passive security. Completed construction balances the atmosphere of the therapeutic community with the need for durable, low maintenance construction. Scope of Services: feasibility study, SEQR, site planning, planning board respresentation, landcape architecture, architecture and interior design.
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Benton Hall Academy Improvements

Little Falls City School District

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Schenectady High School Improvements

Schenectady City School District

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As part of this EXCEL funded project, Synthesis incorporated traffic safety and technology improvements into the High School’s additions and alterations. The new addition included 6 new science labs, 6 new classrooms, 4 lab storage rooms, lockers, restrooms, plus other support spaces. The new main entrance includes a new canopy and a new lobby for the reception and security desk. As part of the site improvements, Synthesis relocated the bus drop-off and pick-up area to the rear of the school. The site improvement design increased the parking area by 34 spaces and the rear bus loop can now accommodate 19 full length buses. Synthesis also designed a multi-sport synthetic field that allows every day usage throughout the year, effectively reducing the pressure and over usage on the remaining turf fields.
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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary Reconstruction and Middle School Addition

Schenectady City School District

As part of the $48.2 million EXCEL project, Synthesis designed a 10,000 sf classroom and cafetorium addition for the Martin Luther King, Jr., Magnet School. A shift in District program required the expansion of this K-6 magnet school to a K-8. The addition was designed to blend in with the existing building.The 3,000 sf cafetorium was designed within a former courtyard. Teachers and students consider this to be a special place. Wave-like multi-colored walls and curving colorful linoleum flooring highlight the multi-purpose space.The program at the school was expanded to include 7th and 8th graders, thereby requiring two (2) science classrooms and three (3) additional interchangeable classrooms to be added in the building addition. The interior classrooms were reconfigured to provide additional 7-8 rooms including a new Family Consumer Science Room, new resource rooms, and a new kitchen to serve the new cafetorium.
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Saratoga Indoor Recreation Center

Saratoga, New York

The City of Saratoga Springs engaged Synthesis (in association with SD Atelier) to design a new Indoor Recreational Center located on a 4-acre parcel of land close to the downtown area. The building and site design is appropriate to the context of the residential neighborhood, maximizes the amount of green space and recreational potential of the site, and employs the principles of sustainable design. The 33,000 square foot Center includes a multi-purpose community room, a game room, six basketball courts, four volleyball courts, a racquetball court, and locker rooms. The design integrates sustainability and efficiency by using innovative approaches and building techniques to achieve high energy performance that is affordable. The combination of pre-manufactured metal framing and structural insulation panels provides an envelope for the building that is highly insulated and tightly sealed minimizing energy loss through the exterior walls and roof. The heating and ventilation is designed to achieve the most efficient and environmentally responsible system for the various functions in the building, including geothermal heat pumps utilizing the earth’s ground heat below the parking lot to heat the non-athletic areas of the building. All finishes were selected using durable natural, recycled or recyclable materials. To control operational costs, natural light is provided in all functional spaces thereby reducing daytime artificial light. A series of dormers and towers were designed to bring natural light to the building’s interior while adding visual interest to the building. Synthesis services for this project included a feasibility study, site planning, architecture, cost estimating, landscape architecture and interior design.
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Paige Elementary School

Schenectady City School District

At Paige School, the program called for expansion of the K-5 program to include 6th graders, which necessitated a 6th grade addition of six (6) classrooms and new toilets.The 6,000 sf addition was carefully laid out on the site plan to salvage major trees and to breakdown the normally overpowerful volumes of school buildings. This school is a neighborhood school and the neighborhood is filled with small residential cape cod style homes with sloped roofs. The volumetric manipulation of the design enabled us to scale the school down to fit in better with the surrounding buildings.The high sloped roofs were positioned against a low flat roof connection building, enabling us to add a clerestory into the main corridor, a major feature in this design.
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Zoller Elementary School

Schenectady City School District

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Synthesis designed this 4,000 square foot cafeteria addition to Zoller Elementary School in the Schenectady City School District. Throughout all project phases Synthesis worked closely with school administrators to develop this unique dining space which is highly utilized by the school during the day and has seen unprecedented use by the district during after hours.The original one-story 1960’s building and an earlier classroom addition were separated by a lengthy, uninspiring connector. Synthesis designed the new cafeteria to fill the narrow site between the existing buildings to give this central area a “heart” and central focus. The cafeteria extends outward from this central focus along a gentle curve, terminating at the existing exterior play area. The building is detailed in a modern way using brick and aluminum panels to compliment the existing building while still creating forms with pleasing proportions and rhythms. The project also included a full replacement of the existing 50,000 square foot roof, complete window replacement, a new fire alarm system and miscellaneous mechanical work. The surrounding site was also reconstructed, expanding and making improvements to the existing parking lot and bus drop off, which resulted in improved safety, handicap accessibility and storm drainage. Synthesis provided a detailed review with the State Education Department to ensure that the proposed construction would receive maximum Building Aid.
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Discovery Channel Network

Construction Intervention STARS Youth Center

Queens, New York

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Synthesis, LLP designed and supervised the construction process for the S.T.A.R.S. Community Center, a non-profit grass-roots community youth organization that is run entirely by dedicated volunteers who plan activities and events for the neighborhood youth. Synthesis worked to create an exciting and inspirational space, within in the context of a narrow, tiny 100 year-old building, which presented many surprises during its nearly impossible five-day renovation schedule. Synthesis worked closely with the producers and contractors to meet the tight schedule demands of the show and to take this building from disaster to show piece. To make the project a success, the firm was on-site for nearly every hour of the construction progress to respond to changes due to field conditions and schedule demands.

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Schenectady, New York 518 370-1576

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