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Mixed-Use Development and Civil Rights Museum in Harlem

Meraki stabilized a complex, multi-program FF&E scope—aligning separate museum and workplace budgets through integrated sequencing and reuse strategy, delivering measurable savings and execution control across a 400,000+ SF mixed-use development.

Overview

The National Urban League Empowerment Center is a 400,000+ SF mixed-use development in Harlem, integrating national headquarters, community facilities, and the Urban Civil Rights Museum into a single, mission-driven environment. 

The project required coordination across distinct program types—museum, workplace, and community—each operating under separate budget structures and delivery timelines.

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Project Profile

  • Total Development: 400,000+ SF mixed-use
  • Museum: ~20,000 SF
  • Community / Institutional: ~55,000 SF
  • Headquarters Office: ~75,000 SF
  • Delivery: Ground-up, multi-program development

Project Challenges

Meraki was engaged mid-project to stabilize a fragmented FF&E program across multiple environments:

  • Multi-budget sequencing across museum, workplace, and community scopes
  • No unified cost structure or procurement strategy at time of engagement
  • Heavy reuse requirements without defined validation process
  • Multi-dealer environment without centralized governance
  • Misalignment between FF&E, construction sequencing, and exhibit delivery

Meraki’s Approach

Meraki implemented an integrated cost-control and sequencing strategy, aligning multiple budgets and program types into a single execution framework.

Programming & Cost Control
  • Rapid FF&E cost modeling across separate budget structures (museum + workplace + community)
  • Deployment of reuse-first strategy across all environments
  • Prioritization of high-impact cost reduction opportunities
Procurement & Governance
  • Multi-dealer coordination across distinct program budgets
  • Centralized cost tracking and procurement discipline
  • Contract alignment across scopes
Execution & Integration 
  • Sequenced delivery across museum and workplace environments, aligned with construction and exhibit timelines
  • Coordination across design, exhibit teams, and trades
  • Oversight of delivery, installation, and integration

KPIs & Outcome

  • ~11% reduction in FF&E spend through cost control + reuse strategy
  • Multi-budget alignment achieved across museum and workplace programs
  • 100% sequencing alignment with construction and exhibit delivery
  • Full governance established across multi-dealer environment

Impact

  • Unified separate budget structures into a coordinated delivery strategy
  • Integrated reuse across museum and workplace environments
  • Eliminated coordination gaps between procurement, construction, and exhibit teams
  • Delivered a controlled, performance-driven FF&E program across multiple program types