Educational Alliance

Manny Cantor Center

The Board approved going forward without having definitively secured all of the funding because of their faith in the team. It took us six years to get to this point. We have a great team who persevered when others would have thrown in the towel. Thank you for your focus, diligence and commitment.

Robin Bernstein
Former President/CEO

Founded in 1889, the Educational Alliance is a not-for-profit, community-based organization which operates almost 20 locations throughout Lower Manhattan. Each year, the Alliance provides over 50,000 New Yorkers with a diverse series of programs focused on education, arts, wellness, and social services.

To further its mission and improve the overall functionality of its multi-use facility, the Alliance sought to renovate and expand its historic flagship building on the Lower East Side. Upgrades addressed the early childhood classrooms, teen and senior centers, kitchen and administrative offices. The program also included a new glass-enclosed rooftop addition for event space and a state-of-the-art health and fitness center.

Role + Responsibilities

Zubatkin was retained early on to oversee the strategic planning, programming, design, and construction of the building. Key to the program was maintaining building operations, with temporary relocations limited to an as-needed basis. The Zubatkin team provided leadership and expertise on the project phasing and logistics strategy, setting up an intensive three-phase schedule for construction and coordinating neighbor relations. Zubatkin was also responsible for managing the financial reporting, project controls and the coordination of funding from multiple sources, including new market tax credits and capital from New York City and State. The firm’s In-House Technical Group assisted in the review of drawings and the bid and award process for trade contracts.

Related Projects

  • Client Educational Alliance
  • Location New York, NY
  • Size

    115,000 sf

  • Architect
    • PBDW Architects
  • Construction Manager
    • RC Dolner Construction

LEED Silver Target