CMF to Build State-of-the-Art Dance Studios

TANNERSVILLE — The Catskill Mountain Foundation (CMF) is set to expand its cultural footprint by constructing two cutting-edge dance studios behind the Catskill Mountain Foundation's Gift Shop in Tannersville. The 5,000-square-foot facility, funded by a recent windfall of $4.5 million in grants and private donations, including a substantial contribution of $940,000 from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), will house the Orpheum Dance Program.

As CMF celebrates its 25th season, the organization aims to enhance its commitment to the performing arts through this ambitious project. The preliminary site plan was presented to the Village of Tannersville officials at this week's planning board meeting by Jean-Claude Alten of Alten Project Solutions, a seasoned project management service based in the Hudson Valley.

Alten, boasting over 30 years of professional experience and a track record of successfully overseeing the construction of over 3 million square feet of new buildings, shared exciting details about the innovative technologies incorporated into the project. The engineering firm leading the project is LaBelle Associates, with offices nationwide, including New York State and overseas.

"At the heart of this technology is TermoBuild Smartfloors," Alten explained. According to Termobuild's website, their technology transforms venue floors "into an active thermal energy storage mechanism for heating and cooling on demand." Notably, this groundbreaking technology has yet to be utilized in New York State, making it a focal point of interest for NYSERDA.

The plans also outline implementing geothermal heating and cooling systems, with two geothermal wells on-site to provide heating and cooling to the Termobuild Smartfloor. Alten emphasized the holistic approach to energy efficiency, stating, "People usually drop some solar panels on the roof of a building and call it energy efficient, and that's like a big bandaid."

Elaborating on the project's significance to NYSERDA, Alten emphasized the potential for a 30-40% reduction in heating and cooling loads, translating to substantial cost savings. "This project is significant to NYSERDA because we're going to be able to build it and test it and demonstrate in a proven way how using the building as a thermo-mass battery will reduce those energy loads and costs associated with a much larger geothermal system," he added.

Alten concluded, "We can reduce our energy consumption and make a more energy-efficient building much more sustainable, and then we can add solar panels to take it to net zero. We don't start with solar panels - we end with them."

The Catskill Mountain Foundation's dance studio project is poised to be a milestone for the organization and a beacon of sustainable design and innovation in the realm of performing arts facilities. Construction is expected to commence in the spring of 2024.