The Spence School

Sciame was the Construction Manager responsible for the The Spence School Project in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The project involved the excavating and shoring of an existing historic landmark building. Thirty feet of bedrock beneath the building had to be removed in order to construct a gymnasium.

The project also required the removal of ninety percent of the interiors. Additional work to the building included extensive restructuring and the construction of a fifth floor to match the existing structure. The Spence School is positioned in the middle of the Carnegie Hill residential area, which has a private school to the east, a bookstore and restaurant to the West. Rock removal was coordinated not to conflict with exam schedules and hammering was curtailed during lunch periods.

To assuage abutting neighbor concerns, an 80’ high rear brick property wall was shored and stabilized while two of the three brick wythes were removed and a new foundation was poured in sections below.