Overview

The Old Stone House, located within JJ Byrne Playground at Washington Park in Brooklyn, is a historic house museum reconstructed in 1934. The current structure recreates the 1699 original, best known for its role in the Battle of Brooklyn during the Revolutionary War. LiRo-Hill is providing structural, civil, and mechanical engineering design services for a two-story addition and upgrades to the existing building.

About the Project

The renovation expands and modernizes the museum to enhance the visitor experience while preserving its historic character. The new north-side addition will include two above-grade stories and a full basement. It will feature an ADA-compliant three-stop elevator, egress stairs, and restrooms. The project also includes a comprehensive assessment of the existing building to identify improvements for life safety, code compliance, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, structural, and architectural systems. The design targets a minimum LEED Gold certification and full compliance with the NYC Energy Code.

Project Challenges & Solutions

Located in a busy public park, the project required careful planning to minimize disruption during construction and optimize long-term community use. Structurally, the addition presented several design challenges. Floor heights were dictated by the elevations of the existing building, limiting available floor-to-floor space. After reviewing multiple options, cast-in-place concrete slabs were selected to maximize ceiling headroom. Subgrade investigations were conducted to assess excavation limits and control construction costs. Roof inspections via bucket truck were also completed to evaluate existing waterproofing and detailing conditions.