Lemchen-Salzer Orthodontics
Delivering a fully operational medical facility within an occupied building demands precise coordination between construction schedules, clinical requirements, and city compliance. EMS approached the Lemchen-Salzer project with a phased methodology — ensuring the practice could continue serving patients throughout the duration of the two-year renovation, with minimal disruption to daily operations.
The scope of this project required simultaneous management of structural, mechanical, and regulatory work across multiple levels of the building. The basement level was transformed from raw, unfinished space into a fully built-out clinical environment, complete with treatment bays, sterilization rooms, and dedicated equipment zones. Every element was designed to meet ADA compliance standards and NYC Department of Buildings requirements, with EMS managing the full permitting and inspection process from groundbreaking through certificate of occupancy.
The elevator installation introduced significant structural coordination challenges, requiring close collaboration with a licensed elevator contractor, structural engineers, and DOB inspectors across multiple phases. On the first floor, a complete remodel modernized the reception area, consultation rooms, and patient-facing spaces — bringing the practice’s environment in line with the expectations of a premier Manhattan orthodontic office. The result is a seamless, two-story practice built to last.
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Project in Detail
Renovating an active orthodontic practice in Manhattan requires more than construction expertise — it demands surgical planning. EMS coordinated every phase of the Lemchen-Salzer project around the practice’s patient schedule, sequencing demolition, structural work, and finishing trades to avoid any forced closure. Work on the basement build-out proceeded concurrently with first floor demolition, compressing the overall timeline without sacrificing quality or compliance.
The elevator installation was among the most complex elements of the project, requiring core drilling through existing floor slabs, coordination with a licensed elevator contractor, and multiple rounds of NYC DOB and third-party inspections. Structural reinforcement was completed around the new shaft while adjacent clinical areas remained operational. Every milestone was tracked against a hard deadline — because in a medical environment, delays carry real costs for the practice and its patients.
[2years]
Project Duration
[2floors]
Scope of work
[370m2]
Complete Renovation
[100%]
DOB Compliant
Incredible Result
The completed Lemchen-Salzer facility stands as a fully modernized, two-story orthodontic practice built to the highest clinical and regulatory standards. The basement — once unfinished and unusable — now houses a full suite of treatment rooms, a dedicated sterilization area, and integrated equipment infrastructure. The first floor reception and consultation spaces were completely reimagined to create a welcoming patient experience that reflects the professionalism of the practice. The result is a clinical environment that performs as precisely as the team that works inside it. EMS delivered the project on scope, in full compliance with New York City building codes, and with the operational continuity the client required from day one through certificate of occupancy.
