Catering hall rebuilt; expansion underway at wine-making facility
GOSHEN, N.Y. (Oct. 3, 2011) – The Ruby Group has finished the first phase of a two-phase project at America’s oldest winery, Brotherhood Winery, based in Washingtonville since 1839.The company completed construction on the conversion of a storage barn into a nearly 6,000-square-foot catering hall. The hall, which dates back to 1893, was used for storage after a fire destroyed its roof in 1999. Before that, the Grand Monarque Hall was used as a catering hall.
The Ruby Group’s Design-Build team handled all details of the project from inception through permitting and design to construction and finishing with its own architects and engineers.
“With our Design-Build team, the clients choose their amount of involvement,” said Peter Berman, president of The Ruby Group. “Some attend every meeting, while others simply lay out their vision and review the progress at various milestones. In Design-Build, it is a matter of involving the client from the beginning so they have the benefit of weighing costs and choosing options.”
The company removed the original wood beams in the first 30 feet of the 100-foot-long structure to create a grand entry way and interior space. Steel I-beams were installed to support the original stone walls, keeping them in place. The Ruby Group leveled the flooring throughout and installed six-inch wide manufactured flooring in the hall and Chilean slate in the bathrooms. The Ruby Group also installed an HVAC system, bead-board ceiling, sprinklers and a fire-alarm system. The company installed 10 12-foot oval chandeliers imported from Chile.
Now, a second phase begins as The Ruby Group starts a teardown of Brotherhood Winery’s existing 5,430-square-foot warehouse – an old pole barn – that has 16 barrels that hold between 5,000 and 10,000 gallons of wine in each. The kegs with the fermenting wine will remain in place as The Ruby Group expands the existing concrete pad and constructs the new 13,050-square-foot building around them. Construction will involve the installation of a new structural foundation and metal building. In addition, the existing offices and manufacturing area will be upgraded with a fire suppression and fire alarm system. The Ruby Group is not only building this project for the client but also handled the entire Municipal Approval Process and Environmental Review, allowing the client to focus on running their business.
The Ruby Group will relocate two 26,000-gallon exterior barrels on the property to make room for the expansion of the warehouse. Project Manager Ramon Gonzalez said “These tanks are very large and quite expensive but careful planning is going into their relocation and we are excited to be part of Brotherhood’s growth.”
“The Ruby Group works hard to surpass the needs of every client,” Berman said. “Here, Brotherhood wanted a company that could create something grand out of an old storage facility, while planning and building a manufacturing facility at the other end of the site. What it found in our team was a group of Architects, Engineers, and Builders that were experienced enough to plan ahead and work sensitively around, and ultimately to move the large wine tanks without damaging them. Our Design-Build customers like Brotherhood find a quicker turnaround, reduced costs and diminished project risks. We were very happy to partner with Brotherhood Winery on this extensive Design-Build project.”
