United States Postal Service

In 2014 CTS Group was commissioned to assist with the Bronx General Post Office in The Bronx, NY, the intent was the revitalization and restoration of this grandiose building to its once former glory. The historic lobby and the 13 original murals by artists Ben Shahn and Bernarnda Bryson were key considerations in the restoration process. This building occupies a a large portion of a very busy neighborhood and had been serving the community as a functioning post office for decades. The preservation and continuation of this post office's service to the community was another key factor in this project. CTS Group was commissioned to not only help oversee the restoration process of the grand historic lobby, but to help in the design of new state of the art postal spaces. In addition, CTS Group worked closely with the postal service to ensure that USPS functions would remain uninterrupted during the restoration and construction of this historic landmark building in the heart of the Bronx. 

United States Postal Service

When the Postal Service decided to build a new main post office for the New Jersey municipality of Park Ridge, they decided to build a new facility that truly embodied some of the new Postal energy initiatives they had developed.  These initiatives were indeed ambitious – exceeding ASHRAE 90.1 by a whopping 30%.  The CTS Group was engaged by the Postal Service to design a new building that, while contemporary in nature, exuded a high level of design and a sense of permanence that was befitting of this attractive New Jersey suburban community.

Relevant Project Data:

- The facility is approximately 5,000 SF. 

 - The exterior envelope consists of metal roofing over a lightweight steel framing system, a cavity wall system with a cement brick veneer and insulated metal stud backup, as well as a metal wall panel system.

Sustainable Design Notes:

- The building was designed to meet Postal Energy Standards, exceeding ASHRAE 90.1 2004 by over 30%.

- The lighting load averaged approximately 0.92 watts/sf.  Occupancy sensors and programmable lighting controls control all lighting.

- The roof composite U-value is 0.0278, the wall composite U-value is 0.037.

- HVAC equipment includes high-efficiency indoor/condensing units with combined SEERs ranging from 16.8 to 19.3.  Two-stage high-efficiency gas furnaces rated at 94% AFUE were also employed.

United States Postal Service

The CTS Group has contributed to many of the design standards the Postal Service has adopted over the years, but the mission for this project was truly unique: To design an exhibit space in one of the busiest post offices in Manhattan for a new “Business Web Center”.   The Postal Service needed a space to educated businesses in the community about the new web-based postal services available, and Grand Central Station was the perfect location.

Relevant Project Data:

- The design included curved interior partitioning, stone and tile work, Venetian plaster to match the existing lobby wall finishes, and a flexible lighting system that could be used to illuminate a continuously changing exhibit.

Interior renovation of long time vacant council chambers.  Project included new lighting, finishes, furniture, wood pews, custom millwork, trim and borough seal.

United States Postal Service

To meet the demands of a rapidly growing suburban demographic, the Postal Service would need the new Flemington-Raritan Township Carrier Annex to be a durable, energy-efficient facility.  While many similar postal facilities lean towards the industrial, almost warehouse aesthetic; CTS took a high-level design approach, which is much more in context with the pleasant Flemington-Raritan Township setting.  Completed in 2009, the Annex has exceeded the Postal Services expectations, not only in the way the building functions, but in the positive impression it makes on both postal employees and customers.

Relevant Project Data:

- The facility is approximately 12,000 SF. 

- The exterior envelope is constructed of an innovative single-wythe insulated concrete masonry unit yielding an R-Factor of 20, a light-gage metal roof truss structure, and a standing seam metal roof.

- CTS construction cost estimate (performed in-house) was less than 1% over the successful bidder’s proposal.

Sustainable Design Notes:

- The building was designed to exceed ASHRAE 90.1 2004 by at least 20%.

- The translucent glazing material in the windows off the production spaces within the facility are designed to disperse natural light throughout the work areas, reducing the need for artificial lighting on the perimeter.

United States Postal Service

The USPS Belleville Branch Retail Lobby was in need of an upgrade.  The retail lobby finishes were in poor condition, lighting was substandard, the HVAC system was antiquated, and the security systems needed to become current.  The United States Postal Service engaged the CTS Group to do what they have done with precision for other postal sites for almost twenty years. 

Relevant Project Data:

- The new retail area is approximately 3,200 SF in area.

- The project included new windows, storefronts, finishes, casework, signage, a new HVAC system, power and lighting.

- The project included a bullet-resistant screenline.

Sustainable Design Notes:

- Lighting specified with high-efficiency ballasts and T-8 lamps.

United States Postal Service

United States Postal Service

United States Postal Service

This vintage 1937 Post Office, located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, is a classic example of some of the beautiful New Deal architecture constructed by the Postal Service in the New York Area.  The exterior masonry and original wood windows were seriously in need of restoration.  Because of the CTS Group’s experience with both postal operations and historic preservation, the firm was selected for the project.

Relevant Project Data:

- The project included brick masonry, limestone, and granite repair and cleaning, resetting of existing granite stairs and the customer entrances, construction of an accessible ramp, and replacement of the existing steel framed windows on the north side of the building.

United States Postal Service

The Wall Street district  in lower Manhattan is a vibrant, bustling neighborhood, and the CTS Group was selected to design a new retail unit located within a 100 yards of Arturo DiModica’s “Charging Bull”.  The new station is located on the corner of Whitehall and Bridge near Bowling Green and the Staten Island Ferry Terminal.  The design is based on Postal Retail Standards, and is one of the busiest Stations in the lower Manhattan.

 Relevant Project Data:

 - The facility is approximately 4,000 SF, and based on Postal Retail Design Standards.

The scope of work on this project included the construction of a new entrance lobby and vertical circulation core that provides access to the 4th & 5th floor levels for a non-postal tenant.

The lobby and core work included the removal of portions of the existing floor slabs as required to construct a new egress stair and (2) passenger elevators.

Construction associated with the consolidation of postal operations included the creation of offices, employee support spaces and a mechanical room.

United States Postal Service

Exterior Concrete Restoration

The Dominick V. Daniels (DVD) Processing & Distribution Center (P&DC) is one of the largest postal facilities in the New York Metropolitan area, having a floor area of over 800,000 SF.   Having a long and successful track record in building envelope repairs and restoration, CTS was engaged to investigate a serious problem with the building exterior.  The exterior concrete columns, banding, and canopies were beginning to spall and fracture.  Reinforcing within the concrete components was rusting and the concrete that encased it was fracturing and, in some cases, falling to the ground.  The CTS Group quickly determined that the problems with the exposed exterior concrete were associated with the penetration of chlorides and the carbonation of the concrete surfaces, and designed and supervised the meticulous concrete restoration needed.

Relevant Project Data:

- Over 130,000 SF of concrete surface was repaired, treated, and coated.

- One of the treatments included an application of a corrosion inhibiting impregnation that penetrates and protects not only the repair area, but also the surrounding concrete from future corrosion due to latent damages.

- The final protective coating is a decorative, crack-bridging coating, which protects the entire structure from the harmful effects of carbonation and water ingress.

United States Postal Service

The CTS Group designed a complete and comprehensive overhaul of the existing access control system and security CCTV system for the largest USPS building in the country.  The USPS NDC facility is approximately 1,103,000 SF in area.

The scope of the project included the installation of a sophisticated computer-controlled access control system, proximity readers, employee entrance lobbies, canopies, doors, frames, electromechanical fail-secure access controlled hardware, turnstiles, guardbooths, gates, fencing, CCTV head end equipment, monitors, cameras, and CCTV cabling.

The project was executed in this 24/7 facility in phases over a multi-year period.