B.R. Fries Completes High Visibility Drive-Through Entrance for Hospital for Special Surgery

B.R. Fries & Associates, LLC, a New York-based general contracting and construction management firm, has completed a main entry renovation for Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) on East 70th Street in Manhattan. The $2.5 million project, which was completed in 12 weeks, transforms the entry procession connecting East 70th Street to East 71st Street, the highly visible, main drop-off point for all hospital patients and visitors.

“Dark and out-dated, the hospital’s drive-through entrance was in great need of transformation. We wanted this first impression to be inspirational and represent HSS’s vision as world leader, innovator and provider of hope for mobility,” said Lisa Goldstein, HSS executive vice president/COO. “Suben Dougherty Architects captured our vision with an inviting, fluid space that B.R. Fries brought to life. Working closely with the hospital under the difficult conditions of the drive-through remaining operative, rigorous scheduling, budgetary constraints and daily technical issues needing resolution, both firms truly rose to the occasion.”

The new entrance is lined with warm white limestone wall panels down the drive. A pattern of new pavers creates texture and dimension to what was once asphalt roadway. Indirect LED lighting coves at the ceiling plane and walls create the illusion of daylight. Project architect Suben Dougherty also designed a large-scale mosaic sculpture, which evokes water and speaks to its healing and restorative powers, that was installed directly across from the entry vestibule.

“Of the many projects we have done for Hospital for Special Surgery, this was, by far, the most complex with regard to scheduling and logistics and also the most visible and high profile,” said Barry R. Fries, CEO, B.R. Fries & Associates.

Among the other projects B.R. Fries has completed for Hospital for Special Surgery are renovations of the Pre-Surgical Department, radiology facilities and new Sports Medicine Suite for physicians in the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service. Hospital for Special Surgery is nationally ranked No. 1 for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report (2010-11).

B.R. Fries & Associates offers a full range of renovation, restoration and new construction building services including general contracting and construction management. It has extensive experience in renovating and retrofitting commercial, institutional, retail and medical properties. Recent projects include construction of the first Target store in Manhattan, the Gold LEED landmark Argonaut Building infrastructure upgrade, Gateway School Interior Build-out and offices for NBC Universal, Tommy Hilfiger’s Headquarters, Nature Publishing and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

In addition to Hospital for Special Surgery, B. R. Fries’s medical clients include EmblemHealth, New York-Presbyterian Hospital and NYU Langone Medical Center.