Projects | rayaec.com

NYC Health and Hospitals
Outposted Therapeutic Housing Program,
New York NY

Rayaec serves as Deputy Program Manager to AECOM on the Outposted Therapeutic Housing Units (OTxHU) program at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue — a first-of-its-kind initiative to integrate a secure therapeutic care facility within an active public hospital. The $200 million project is a cornerstone of New York City’s plan to close Rikers Island, providing approximately 250 beds for incarcerated individuals with complex medical, mental health, and substance use needs.

Our team has been embedded from planning through construction and continues to support the program, providing program-level oversight including cost reporting, schedule management, stakeholder coordination, and compliance with the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) delivery framework. The project requires close coordination among NYC Health + Hospitals, the NYC Department of Correction, Correctional Health Services, the Mayor’s Office, and the NYS Commission of Correction.

A major programmatic shift at 60% construction completion — elevating the facility from a correctional healthcare model to a jail with integrated healthcare — introduced significant scope changes including detention-grade finishes, expanded security systems, a dedicated backup generator, and a new secure entry sequence. Rayaec’s team worked alongside the project team to navigate these changes while maintaining construction progress within an occupied hospital environment. The project achieved substantial completion on schedule and within its reset budget, with zero claims.