Port Imperial

Overview

New Jersey residents get to delight in views of the Manhattan skyline, with its many architectural gems just across the Hudson River. Port Imperial, a new planned community stretching over two miles along the coast of New Jersey, has now given New Yorkers something new to admire in return.

We provided structural design services to IBI Group (Bldg 7) & Handel Architects (Bldg 10 & 12) for three buildings in the development.

Avora, Building 7, Highlights

• The Avora is an 11-story condominium with an accessible landscaped roof, pool and a sloped amphitheater that showcases expansive views of the Hudson River and New York City skyline.
• To preserve the maximum floor-to-ceiling heights while adhering to strict local zoning requirements, we developed a “bifurcated” column system, which entailed sloped braces paired with vertical columns at the perimeter. The system was used extensively throughout the building to achieve the architect’s desire for a “sculpted” tower while simultaneously enabling the developer to squeeze as many floors as possible into the envelope.
• Post-tensioned concrete was not deemed cost-effective and the use of conventional framing or drop panels was considered too disruptive given the limited floorto- floor height. The sloping, exposed structural elements were integrated into the interior design of the apartments and complement the sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline.
• Achieving the architect’s “sculpted” vision posed unique challenges. Every three stories the floor plates transition, resulting in an extra-long cantilever. To provide the cantilevered length, our engineers used slabs seven inches thicker than the typical nine-inch slab at the transition floors. The 16-inch slab thickness was shaped to match the architectural profile of the building, giving the appearance of stacked plates, or a cantilever off a cantilever. In reality, the 16-inch drop panel is reinforced as a stepped slab and transitions to a seven-inch cantilevered slab.

Building 10 Highlights

• The building has condominium apartments on the five upper levels and condominium townhouses on the two lower levels.
• The first level houses retail and other mixed-use spaces.
• The building utilizes an efficient flat plate concrete floor system to minimize structural depth with a framed concrete transfer girder system at the podium to support the residential programming at the upper floors.
• The building also contains two levels of parking and a deck with a garden and pool and expansive views of the Hudson River and New York City skyline.

Building 12 Highlights

• The building has condominium apartments on the five upper levels and condominium townhouses on the lower levels.
• The first level houses a health club, retail, private theater, and other mixed-use spaces.
• The building utilizes an efficient flat plate concrete floor system to minimize structural depth with a framed concrete transfer girder system at the podium to support the residential programming at the upper floors.
• The building also contains two levels of parking and a garden/pool deck with extensive views of the Hudson River and New York City skyline.