Design Consultant – MFS Studios Inc.
Structural Engineer – JWM Group LLC
Contractor – Chilmark Construction LLC
We were brought on as a consultant to assist in the redesign of (3) major elements to the project on a 2,500 SQFT duplex apartment on the upper west side of Manhattan.
First, the major resolution needed was a design for a spiral stair that would connect the (2) floors together without reverting back to a switchback stair that would eat up more square footage of the apartment. With the client resigned to the fact it was impossible, given the structural restraints of (2) trimmers being placed with not enough distance between them to fit the stair, we worked with The IRON Shop and JWM Group using our 3D modeling to successfully rotate and fit the spiral stair. This directly saved the client money, time, and re-permitting the project.
Secondly, we were kept on to reconfigure the ground floor to accommodate the new orientation of the spiral stair and create a more open plan from what was previously designed.
Finally, being retained until the end of the project we dealt with the final concern of the client which was how to maximize visibility to a private roof deck and exploit the light into the stairwell leading to that outdoor space without sacrificing security. We worked with a door manufacturer to create a residential application of one of their commercial impact resistant doors with a beautiful full lite glass portion resolving the client's fear of susceptibility of burgling and dimness within the stairwell while also avoiding an unattractive metal gate application typically seen in this circumstance.
