Construction of our first pro-bono Design Corps project has been completed – the outdoor dining build-out for Pro Thai in East Harlem. The completed project is truly the result of a team effort and a great example of how the architecture, design and construction industries are coming together to help small businesses survive during this pandemic – epitomizing the goals and ideals of the Design Corps.
The key challenge at Pro Thai was the steep hill it is located on that complicated the design and detailing of their outdoor dining setup. To overcome this challenge, we had to innovate and expand on the basic DOT guidelines to incorporate a build-out that allowed handicap accessibility while complying with the other requirements of NYC’s Outdoor Dining program. Another key challenge was to keep the design and detailing simple to keep costs down. This goal was achieved through teamwork – since wood frame construction is not common within NYC, we consulted a structural engineer and collaborated with a contractor who has built hundreds of wood framed houses. Together, we developed the details and proper wood sizing to ensure strength and durability for withstanding NYC’s harsh winter and able to survive in the outdoor elements for at least 1 year.
The Design Corps (which Soluri Architecture helped co-found through the AIANY), is a collaboration between AIANY, NYC EDC, Design Advocates and NYCxDesign to create a platform for architects and the design community to provide pro-bono services to restaurants struggling to survive this pandemic. The Design Corps demonstrates how architecture and design-thinking can help address some of the many challenges of this pandemic and is about small businesses coming together to help other small businesses – because together we can do big things.
To learn more about the Design Corps, and/or to participate as a restaurant owner or design professionals, please go to: nycxdesign.com/design-corps
