Project Overview
Located in the South Bronx, N.Y., near St. Mary’s Park, the 40th Precinct is a bold, modern station that evolved from an extended, iterative design process. Originally commissioned by the New York Department of Design and Construction in 2014, the 45,000-ft2 40th Precinct features a dedicated community space, a fitness area, and a secure facility for New York Police Department officers to work and train. The new precinct, designed by architect BIG with precast concrete products from High Concrete Group, is intended to connect with the historic character of early New York City station houses.
Community Connection with Precast Concrete
According to Matt Krebs, project executive for High Concrete Group, precast concrete was the material of choice on the 40th Precinct project for two main reasons.
“Precast concrete was selected for its aesthetics and for its ability to meet the project’s tight site constraints,” he says. “The light gray finishes on the precast panels helped the building blend into the urban landscape. Additionally, there was only one main access point for the project that allowed space for a crane to set precast on all sides without the need to shut down adjacent roads or sidewalks.”
The three-story 40th Precinct’s architecture includes a series of stacked box sections, creating dramatic overhangs and walls that lend to its modern aesthetic. The overall box-and-brick design was tailored specifically to meet the city’s programming and operational needs, striking a balance between civic presence and functional performance. Solid walls surrounding the building offer users enhanced security, while the setback windows allow ample natural light to flow through without sacrificing privacy. Each of the building’s corners was cast as a single piece with precisely angled returns to form setback window jambs, some with angle variations as minor as fractions of a degree.
“Creating the corner return panels with the fractional precision needed was a big challenge,” Krebs says. “We ended up designing a custom hydraulic tilt table that would hold and support the first pour to achieve the exact angle needed.”
One of the 40th Precinct’s most innovative components is its community room, which is the first of its kind in New York City. The community room has already been used for a variety of programming, including homework help for children, a chess competition, hobby classes, and opportunities for police officers to connect with the people they serve. The façade showcases a community wall with glass tubes cast directly into the precast concrete panels, creating a transparent and inviting interface with the public. Green roofs—another first for a New York City precinct—top each floor, supported by the structural capabilities of the precast concrete system. This feature helps the 40th Precinct reduce the heat island effect and manage stormwater. Precast concrete also contributed to sustainability efforts on the project by minimizing on-site waste and supporting long-term durability. Additionally, the off-site fabrication process reduced neighborhood disruptions and emissions typically associated with traditional construction methods.
Through thoughtful design and construction powered by precast concrete, the 40th Precinct stands as a model for future stations, setting a new benchmark for public-safety architecture along with opportunities for increased community connection in New York City.
Mason Nichols is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based writer and editor who has covered the precast concrete industry since 2013. |