H2M recently constructed a new Individualized Residential Alternative NY; to accommodate non-ambulatory adults with developmental disabilities. Located in Brooklyn, the new, one-story, 12-bed IRA was constructed on a vacant lot and designed to conform with all local and state codes, including the requirements of NYCRR Title 14, Chapter XIII, Parts 635 and 686.
Its new one-story, modern design has been integrated with the site to afford views from the interior spaces to the exterior landscape, which was designed with indigenous, low-maintenance plantings. The building’s amenities include: full accessible on-site parking and covered drop-off areas; radiant floor heating, to provide added comfort to residents and provide significant energy savings; and comprehensive life safety systems including fire sprinklers, alarms, and carbon monoxide detection.
Built-in artwork, casework and other features reduce the institutional feel and make the facility feel like home, while aesthetically-pleasing, low-maintenance materials and fixtures offer durability and long-term cost conservation. H2M worked with DASNY to have the site backfilled with soil that would have been deemed “waste” from another DASNY project located nearby (Brooklyn DDSO); this allowed for the creation of a level site and accessible backyard area for the building’s occupants at a considerably reduced cost.
