Bishop Street Studios

Bishop Street Studios is a notable project that our civil engineering firm had the privilege to design and develop site plans for. The project included the renovation of the original Sunny Acres Orphanage building, which was constructed in 1931, and the addition of three new structures. The primary goal was to create affordable, single-occupant residential units for adults living with mental illness, which will be developed and operated by Transitions Mental Health Association. All together, the four buildings included 33 very-low-income single-occupancy studios and one-bedroom units, as well as a one-bedroom unit for a resident manager. Our team worked closely with the architectural team to ensure that the site plan seamlessly integrated with the buildings’ design, resulting in a cohesive and aesthetically pleasing project. One of the major challenges our team faced was accommodating large amounts of water run-on from adjacent foothills. We had to integrate new site layouts with the existing restoration and renovation, which required careful planning and coordination. Our experienced civil engineering team was able to create a site design that effectively addressed these issues while meeting the project’s budget and timeline. The new site plan included several notable features, such as a central courtyard, parking for guests and residents, and beautiful landscaping. Additionally, the project achieved Greenpoint Rated Gold for sustainable construction practices, thanks to the use of photovoltaics that help mitigate electrical and water heating costs.