The NYC Department of Design and Construction Got Stuff Done in 2023

DDC: Ian Michaels, 646-939-6514, michaelia@ddc.nyc.gov

(Long Island City, NY – December 21, 2023) Commissioner Thomas Foley of the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) today celebrated the end of 2023 and the projects, new responsibilities and changes to the City’s capital construction process that the agency was able to accomplish during the year.

“DDC builds cool stuff all over the City and in 2023 our portfolio became larger than ever as we kept up our core program of public buildings and infrastructure projects while also tackling large new agendas like green infrastructure, coastal resiliency and Borough-Based Jails,” said DDC Commissioner Thomas Foley. “In 2023 we also implemented process reforms such as our growing design-build program, a first for City government, and took on emergencies like HERRC centers for asylum seekers.

“I continue to be impressed every day by the dedication, expertise and versatility of the DDC staff. No matter what new challenges come our way, they rise to the occasion and excel.”

Completing Capital Projects for New Yorkers: In 2023, DDC completed 87 design projects and 64 capital construction projects that benefit New Yorkers in every neighborhood. In the Bronx, DDC’s Infrastructure Division finished the reconstruction of Grand Concourse from E. 175th Street to Fordham Road, adding safety features and better pedestrian access throughout the area. DDC finished an important new link in the Jamaica Bay bike network. The agency’s Public Buildings Division restored the front of the Staten Island Supreme Court Building and completed a renovation of the East Flatbush Library. The agency re-opened the new Stuyvesant Cove Park as part of East Side Coastal Resiliency with flood protection for the community and completed the new Starlight Park in the Bronx. DDC completed major water supply and pedestrian space improvements along Ninth Avenue in Midtown and built miles of sewers as part of the ongoing Southeast Queens Initiative. The agency completed sewer improvements in Gowanus, pedestrian safety improvements at Parsons Boulevard in Queens and a new Bluebelt system in Staten Island. Throughout the year, the agency upgraded 3,315 pedestrian ramps to make them ADA-compliant and installed 25 miles of water mains and 7.8 miles of sewers.

Climate Change and Coastal Resiliency: DDC is one of the agencies leading the City’s response to climate change and the rising possibility of coastal and cloudburst-related flooding. In 2023, DDC built 7,259 feet of floodwall and installed eight floodgates as part of East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) in lower Manhattan, and also started Brooklyn Bridge-Montgomery Coastal Resiliency (BMCR). Together the two projects will protect 3.2 miles of shoreline and neighborhoods. DDC installed 467 pieces of green infrastructure designed to reduce flooding in the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn, and at Beach 108th Street in Rockaway installed the City’s first porous pavement to improve drainage. The agency is also part of the City’s new Cloudburst Management Program.

Coming Through When Needed: From 9/11 to Superstorm Sandy to the COVID-19 pandemic, DDC has a long history of working under emergency declarations to respond when the City is in crisis, and 2023 was no different. As part of the City’s HERRC team finding centers for asylum seekers, DDC performed 46 site assessments for potential HERRC centers and supervised construction at ten HERRC sites. The agency completed $200 million of urgently needed upgrades at Rikers Island and removed 15 old buildings from Hart Island for a new visitation program.

Capital Process Reform – Making Projects Go Faster: In 2023, DDC continued to work with Mayor Adams’ Capital Process Reform Task Force to implement the recommendations contained in DDC’s Blueprint for improvement and other Task Force reforms. The highlight has been the implementation of a new design-build program outside of the old legacy system of lowest bidder contracting. The new Shirley Chisholm and Mary Cali Dalton recreation centers in Brooklyn and Staten Island respectively will be completed at least two years faster using design-build than would be possible under lowest bidder contracting, as will the Brownsville Girls Empowerment Center and Community Hub in Brooklyn. In 2023, DDC broke ground on three design-build public buildings projects and named a new leader of its design-build program. The agency awarded its first design-build contract for an infrastructure project on Lexington Avenue. DDC awarded a design-build contract for the first of four Borough-Based Jails that will allow for the closure of Rikers Island. Working in Albany, DDC secured reauthorization for design-build through 2027 and drafted legislation to expand the Public Works Investment Act with more alternate delivery tools.

DDC introduced Expanded Work Allowance in some contracts to better address the most common types of project delays. Many of the agency’s contracts now include early completion incentives and reduced construction timelines to make jobs go faster. The agency started using drones a will expand their use in future building façade projects. The agency also reached an agreement with the Public Design Commission (PDC) to speed up the review of some projects. DDC now has a project advocate at the Department of Buildings to expedite permits and approvals for DDC projects. The agency’s vendor payment system was updated to make it easier for vendors to get paid. DDC and the City successfully defended a lawsuit challenging Joint Bidding 4.0, which saves the City $100 million annually and improves infrastructure projects by providing better coordination with private utilities. To reduce paperwork, the agency implemented electronic bidding in 2023. To better plan how to use the City’s limited resources, DDC started an Advanced Capital Planning pilot program with the Brooklyn and Queens library systems, and created a new portal with Conditions Assessment Data for more than 2,000 public buildings.

Promoting M/WBEs: In 2023, DDC continued to be one of the City’s leading agencies for contract awards to Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) with $104.5 million awarded to M/WBE prime contractors in just the first half of the year. The agency awarded $2.2 million in contracts via the Non-competitive Small Purchase Discretionary procurement method with three awards going to a Native American firm, a first for the agency. The DDC Office of Diversity & Industry Relations engaged 823 M/WBEs through in-person or virtual events, including a Construction Career & M/WBE Expo in Brooklyn to recruit M/WBEs and community residents to work on the new Brownsville Girls Empowerment Center and Community Hub.

The contract to dismantle the infamous Tombs building at the site of Manhattan’s future Borough-Based Jail was the first awarded to an M/WBE under the agency’s growing design-build program. In 2023, DDC also awarded its first contract under its Mentoring Program for M/WBEs and small construction firms and accepted 29 new firms into the program. The agency set 30 percent M/WBE goals for both design and construction in its design-build contracts. DDC also helped to secure legislation in Albany to allow for comprehensive wrap-around insurance, to raise the M/WBE discretionary threshold to $1.5 million and to allow for State and City reciprocity for M/WBE certification. The agency’s website was updated to make it easier to locate upcoming contracting opportunities.

Community Outreach: To improve the way DDC communicates with the public about its projects, in 2023 DDC started using the new “Live NYC Map” by NYC Small Business Services to identify and reach out to property owners and to businesses such as restaurants and laundromats that are dependent on continuous water service to operate. The agency contracted to increase the number of projects that will have a Community Construction Liaison assigned to it. The Office of Community Outreach and Notification began using new project management software to consolidate and analyze outreach efforts and compare past programs to find areas for improvement. Larger construction programs such as ESCR and Borough-Based Jails have received enhanced community engagement efforts.

Building the DDC Team: In 2023, through an expanded program of recruiting, hiring fairs and career days, DDC hired 214 employees through an expedited process. Staff training was enhanced in 2023 along with professional development and continuing education courses. The agency created 14 new employee networking groups and eight cultural enrichment groups to foster cooperation. The agency held 11 “Lessons Learned” tours for staff in 2023 and continued to hold regular Agency Forums with a high volume of staff participation.

Safety: Every DDC project has an approved Site Safety Plan filed with DDC’s Safety and Site Support Division and every project is inspected regularly by the Division. In 2023, as in past years, any accidents at DDC construction sites were investigated to determine the cause and implement corrective actions. In 2023, the head of the Division was made a DDC Deputy Commissioner to emphasize the importance of safety. DDC launched its “Safety Outreach Program” in 2023 with regular recurring visits to contractors to build safety awareness. The Division also established a new Environmental Code Compliance Unit to conduct environmental audits of active construction sites.

Recognition: With success comes recognition and DDC received its share in 2023. In March, the agency was named the region’s “Owner of the Year” by Engineering News-Record, the leading construction industry publication. In April, the agency received the “Award of Merit” from ACEC New York plus six awards for capital projects. In November, DDC projects received another eight awards for Excellence in Engineering from ACEC New York. The DDC team that evaluated potential HERRC sites and managed construction at many of them received the Mayor’s Excellence in Customer Service Award. The Public Design Commission gave DDC nine awards for superior project design. The Society of American Registered Architects (SARA) gave a Merit Award to DDC’s project at the entrance of Wave Hill Public Garden & Cultural Center. And the American Institute of Architecture New York (AIANY) gave the agency a Design Award for the innovative use of curved cross-laminated timber panels at the Bronx Children’s Museum, the first time such material has been used in construction in the U.S.

About the NYC Department of Design and Construction
The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor Adams’ long-term vision of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, and new or upgraded roads, sewers and water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $28 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to City projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.