A Co-op Apartment Renovation in Jackson Heights, Queens

Location: Jackson Heights, Queens

Building: Co-op apartment

Size: About 1,000SF, two bedrooms

Scope: Full renovation of the kitchen, bathroom, storage, lighting and finishes

Our services: Design, co-op submission, and construction administration with a licensed contractor

Status: In progress. Construction is expected to take six to nine months

Imagery: Design renderings

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​Making a small apartment work harder

In this roughly 1,000-square-foot, two-bedroom Jackson Heights co-op, storage is scarce and every square foot has to earn its place. The apartment was also dark, with moisture in the bathroom and kitchen. This renovation reorganizes the apartment around how it's used every day: an entry that handles coats and shoes, a kitchen laid out for efficiency, storage built in where it's needed, and light and building details planned before construction begins.

 

The brief

The goal is an apartment that is easier to live in. That means more storage, a kitchen that works efficiently, protection against leaks and moisture in the wet rooms, and lighting that follows the rhythm of the day.

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Constraints

• Existing conditions. The apartment is dark, with moisture in the bathroom and kitchen.

• Storage. The existing apartment has very little, so storage had to be added throughout.

• The co-op. The plan goes through board review, and construction follows the building's rules for access and work hours.

• Existing walls and plumbing. The plan keeps interior walls and plumbing locations where they are, which keeps the approval path simpler.

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Details you won't see in the renderings

Some of the most important decisions in a renovation disappear once the walls close. On this project they include:

• Waterproofing in the kitchen and bathroom, designed to address the moisture in the existing rooms and protect against future leaks.

• Water filtration built into the plumbing plan.

• Circadian lighting, which changes in brightness and color through the day.

• Hardwired internet, with a Wi-Fi switch at the primary bedroom so Wi-Fi can be turned off at night.

• Added storage built into the entry, kitchen and walls.

 

Approvals

The plan goes through the co-op board. Because it keeps the existing plumbing locations and interior walls, we expect to file with the co-op only, not the Department of Buildings. If that changes, we work with an expeditor to file.

 

Timeline

Construction is expected to take six to nine months. Design and approvals come first.

 

Our role

TDA designs the apartment, prepares the co-op submission, and provides construction administration with a licensed contractor. During construction we hold a weekly site meeting with the contractor and send a written progress report to everyone involved.

 

What's next

We'll update this page with drawings and progress photos as construction moves forward.

 

Questions about this project

How long does a full co-op renovation take?

On this project, construction is expected to take six to nine months. Design and approvals come before that, and timing depends on your building and your scope.

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Does a co-op renovation need a Department of Buildings filing?

Not always. It depends on the work. This project keeps the existing plumbing and interior walls, so we expect to file with the co-op only. We confirm what's required during design.

 

What is circadian lighting?

Lighting designed to change in brightness and color through the day, brighter and cooler in the morning, warmer and dimmer in the evening.