Location
New York, NY
Completion
1991
Client
The Seamen’s Church Institute
Square Footage
40,000 SF
Architect
Ennead Architects LLP
(formerly Polshek Partnership)
Seamen’s Church Institute Headquarters
Sciame was the Construction Manager responsible for restoration and expansion of this landmarked brick structure, bringing to life a complex design that melds historic and contemporary elements that give the building a ”ship-like” look. A new brick wall was incorporated in the structure along with porcelain-enameled steel panels on the upper stories. Mullioned, sashed windows give way to plate-glass openings that echo portholes; a bracketed
cornice is continued in the line of a parapet capped by an ornamental I-beam; and the 19th Century shopfront of cast-iron columns and granite lintel is re-interpreted in modern structural steel.
Housed in the building are the Seafarer’s Club, meeting rooms, offices and state-of-the-art classrooms for computerized nautical training, as well as ground floor retail space.
Seamen’s Church Institute serves the organization’s mission as an advocate for the personal and professional well-being of merchant seafarers the world over.
Project Awards
City Club of New York Albert S. Bard
Awards for Excellence in Architecture and Urban Design – Honor Award
New York State Association of Architects – The American Institute of Architects
Excellence in Design
What a night! A huge thank you to everyone who came out on Wednesday to represent Team Sciame at the 2025 J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge in Central Park!
Despite the weather, the Sciame team showed up strong, lacing up and powering through the 3½-mile course!
We’re proud of the determination, camaraderie, and good humor everyone brought to a soggy evening in the park.
#jpmcc
New York Construction’s Contractor of the Year – Looking back, 2006 was a standout year for Sciame Construction. We were honored as Contractor of the Year, a testament to our growing reputation for delivering some of New York City’s most architecturally daring and culturally significant projects.
In April 2006, Sciame Construction completed the Morgan Library and Museum Expansion, designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop and BBB Architects. The project was led by then EVP/Division Head Joseph Mizzi, who began his career at Sciame 11 years earlier in 1995.
The following month, our founder, Frank Sciame, passed the torch of day-to-day leadership by promoting Joseph Mizzi to President of Sciame Construction, while continuing to serve as Chairman and CEO.
This leadership transition helped shape the next chapter of our story, and was memorialized in the cover photo of New York Construction, and the firm’s Contractor of the Year honor.
Thanks a Half-Billion! – At Sciame Construction, we proudly led the effort to reimagine the WTC Memorial and Museum, a project of national significance. Frank Sciame, our founder, was tasked with creating a design that honored the original vision while staying within a $500 million budget. Working closely with Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Pataki, and a team of 13 advisers, including notable figures like Jack Rudin and Robert Douglass, we developed cost-effective design options, ultimately reducing the budget from nearly $1 billion to $510 million. Our approach preserved key elements like the voids, waterfalls, and pools while optimizing infrastructure and resizing the museum. Sciame’s commitment to excellence ensured a memorial that balances beauty, dignity, and sustainability.
Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center – Though relatively small in size, the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center was a technically complex project successfully constructed and delivered by Sciame Construction. This groundbreaking laboratory made an outsized impact on global health. It was here that Dr. David Ho pioneered the development of the revolutionary “AIDS cocktail,” a combination therapy that transformed HIV from a fatal diagnosis into a manageable condition. His groundbreaking work earned him the title of TIME magazine’s Man of the Year, underscoring the center’s profound contribution to the fight against the AIDS epidemic.
