Top marks as Levien & Co. completes school projects - Brief Article

Real Estate Weekly, Feb 4, 2004

Levien & Company has completed major renovation and construction projects at three of the premier educational institutions in New York City--Columbia University, the Marymount School and Packer Collegiate Institute--says Kenneth Levien, AIA, president of Levien & Co., the project management firm for each endeavor.

The projects varied widely in scope, ranging from new construction to renovation to consulting services.

At Columbia, Levien & Co. provided consulting services to the in-house Department of Design and Construction for a new 12-story facility that includes first-floor commercial tenants and five floors devoted to the university's K-8 Lab School. The upper six floors contain 27 faculty apartments.

At Marymount, the assignment involved gutting, modernizing and partially expanding the 15,000-s/f, six-story townhouse at 2 East 82nd St., which the school bought to accommodate 130 students in grades four through seven.

The renovated building houses a science lab, art room, technology room, library, dining facility, seminar rooms, six classrooms and support spaces.

At Packer, located in Brooklyn Heights, a new middle school was built within the nave of a landmark church.

The glass-and-steel structure houses 12 new core classrooms, five science classrooms, faculty offices and support space. Additional work for the school included converting the former parish house into a dining hall and kitchen, and renovating the interiors of many of the school's existing buildings.

"This was a rare opportunity for us to make a difference at three different distinguished teaching institutions, all at the same time," says Mr. Levien. "The work will benefit not just the schools, but the surrounding communities as well."

Founded in 1992, Levien & Co. provides a range of project management, consulting, and advisory services to real estate owners, investors, lenders and tenants.