The Tin Building by Jean-Georges

Reuse and revitalization in lower Manhattan’s historic Seaport

The Tin Building, a destination marketplace which houses multiple restaurants, retail spaces and a central market in one place, aims to practice zero waste. The various retail stores on site supply the restaurants which, in turn, feed the community.

The adaptive reuse of this historic building followed the same circular line of thinking, reusing space and materials where feasible. WSP provided Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing engineering, Fire Protection Services, LEED Consulting and Building Technology Services for the restored 53,000 square-foot building on Manhattan’s East River.

Preserve and protect local history

A landmarked structure in lower Manhattan’s historic Seaport, the Tin Building was constructed in 1907 as part of the Fulton Fish Market. The historic building retained fire damage in the 1990s, and, in 2012, the building was further damaged by Superstorm Sandy. As a direct result, the building was raised and relocated more than 30 feet east as a measure against future extreme weather events. Once in place, a sensitive multi-year restoration and adaptation began.

WSP’s engineers remained the common element through design of the core, shell and tenant improvements. The facility received a full MEP upgrade as part of the restoration, and the team faced the challenge of accommodating the extensive infrastructure needs of the food hall with limited floor-to-floor clearance. The ceiling cavity was to house robust systems for exhaust and fire protection, in addition to the traditional HVAC ducts and utilities. In partnership with the contractor, WSP’s engineers participated in extensive coordination meetings to review the design intent with the building's limited ceiling cavities. Coordination included all related trades and a review of measurements down to the inch so that the space was maximized, functional and appealing. This coordination and solution were vital to the project's commercial success.