A Feasibility Study for
New York Aikikai
The one. The only.
The New York Aikikai.
Why now?
We are at a critical moment in our history as a dojo.
Yamada Sensei, recognized by many as responsible for bringing aikido to the United States, opened New York Aikikai on 18th Street in Manhattan in the mid 1960s. Since then he has built a venerated national and international community of senseis, uchi deshis and students, with NY Aikikai at its center.
To enter NY Aikikai, is to experience the accumulated energy of the thousands of aikidoka who have trained here. We who know the power of this place are drawn back time and again, and are inspired to share what we value so deeply with generations to come.
After two years of pandemic limitations, the mat has begun to fill again. Every day, we are welcoming visitors and students eager to reconnect through our training.
Now is the time to channel this new surge of excitement into a renewal of our dojo with the future in mind.
It’s time to invest in a space that will serve us, and those who come after us, for decades to come. Our first priority is to ensure that all of us who come each week, all those who are visiting from around the world, and all those yet to discover the balance and harmony of aikido, will have a home base for training at the center of this shared community. It’s our responsibility to create a center that is worthy of Yamada Sensei and his legacy.
At the very least, we have to bring the building up to meet the current codes. To do this, we have to take on a number of projects around the building. That’s the baseline. But, in this obligatory, even mundane set of tasks, we see the potential to channel the electrifying force that aikido has already brought to this physical space by opening ways for that energy to flow more freely throughout the building. We’re planning renovations that both reflect the power we know in aikido, and retain the energy and essence of the dojo that brings us back day after day.
We invite you to join us in leveraging this necessary work to create a surprise of beauty, stability, and graciousness within this space that has served us so well, extending its life for years to come, and honoring the one who deserves this outward expression of our innermost respect.
Projects
All of the improvements included in this overview must be undertaken. Initial estimates for the work needed to bring us into compliance with city codes ran into millions of dollars. Thoughtful, persistent negotiation has brought us to a more manageable total of $1,487,654. This total is broken out into the projects listed below, which will come together in a holistic site-wide set of improvements.
Floor plans / Ground floor / Second floor / Third floor
As of May 12, the modernization and renovation will include the following phases:
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This includes all of the items that are required as part of NYC Building Code to protect occupants, first responders, and the general public. These items include the Fire Protection (sprinkler) system, code-compliant staircases for ingress / egress, compliance with ADA requirements where applicable, hygiene maintenance (showers and bathrooms) and providing for habitable deshi quarters. These items must be done to satisfy NYC at risk of fines.
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In order for the building to function properly and to maximize the utility of the spaces, the base building systems need to be modernized and upgraded. This includes:
- Installation of HVAC systems that will provide heating, cooling, and ventilation of the building
- Installation of new electrical wiring (for the new systems as well as replacing dated wiring)
- Installation of new hot water heating systems to replace the existing boilers which have outlived their useful lives
- Miscellaneous structural work to reinforce roof areas to allow for safe use of outdoor spaces
- Replacement of existing roof – including all Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) that is currently part of the substrate of the roof – and installation of new roof. This will remedy existing water penetration through the existing roof while also increasing the overall insulation value of the roof.
This work will serve multiple purposes. In addition to providing additional comfort as well as code compliance, this will also add significant value by way of energy efficiency. Upgrading these mechanical systems will reduce overall energy consumption by a large percentage which will, consequently, lower monthly utility bills while also being more environmentally conscious.
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The third phase is focused on improving the overall experience of the space, from exterior to interior. A new exterior entrance with controlled access will create a safer and more welcoming entrance. A renovated reception area will welcome guests to a more comfortable environment which will lead to a larger mat area for practice.
Laundry facilities will be upgraded for Gi washing and bathrooms and showers will be renovated as well.
A simple low voltage system of cameras and speakers will allow for broadcasting of sessions and will create a larger audience for the dojo.
Utilizing the existing roof space to create a small but tranquil outdoor experience (landscaping, roof pavers…etc) will add to the overall experience at the dojo and create more opportunities for social interaction.
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This phase will focus on relatively inexpensive but important items to improve the building. Items include caulking and sealing around existing windows to improve energy efficiency and minimize thermal loss, replacing existing fluorescent / incandescent lighting with energy-efficient LED fixtures, refurbishment of the existing entrance / staircase, and new signage.
Total – $1,487,655
Ways to give
If New York Aikikai begins a capital campaign there are many ways for individuals to fulfill pledges payable up to three years, including:
● Cash gifts
● Credit card payments
● Stock transfers
● Planned giving
New York Aikiai is a 501(c)(3) organization. All contributions are tax deductible.
How we get there
For a proposed campaign to be successful, gifts of all sizes are essential and necessary.
Below you will find a chart that can be helpful in determining how a potential gift from you may support a campaign as well as how this gift would impact your monthly expenses. The first column indicates the level of gifts needed. The second column indicates how many gifts of each dollar amount are needed to complete the goal. The third column, “Cumulative” not only adds the total of gifts left to right, but shows the cumulative total increasing from the top down. The final column shows what a monthly payment would be for each gift broken out by month over 3 years.
Essential Gifts
| Size of gift | # of gifts | Cumulative total | Monthly over 3 years |
| $250,000 | 1 | $250,000 | $6,944 |
| $175,000 | 1 | $425,000 | $4,861 |
| $100,000 | 2 | $625,000 | $2,778 |
| $50,000 | 3 | $775,000 | $1,389 |
| $25,000 | 2 | $825,000 | $694 |
| $15,000 | 4 | $885,000 | $417 |
| $7,500 | 30 | $1,110,000 | $208 |
| $5,000 | 39 | $1,305,000 | $139 |
| $3,000 | 42 | $1,431,000 | $83 |
| $1,500 | 46 | $1,500,000 | $42 |
| Less than $500 | Many | Goal Achieved | Variable |
Goal
$1,500,000
Yoshimitsu Yamada Sensei
8th Dan Shihan
Steve Pimsler
Board President, 7th Dan
Sharon Dominguez
Vice President and Treasurer,
6th Dan
David Katz
Vice President, 4th Dan
Junya Nakatsugawa
Board Secretary, 6th Dan
Kevin Kanesaka
Board Member, 5th Dan
Survey
To assess the level of support for a possible campaign, we ask community members to answer a series of questions by June 21, 2022. Some of you have been mailed a unique ID to use when completing the online survey, and others will respond through an interview. All answers are confidential and you will not be asked for a binding pledge. Answers from the community to this survey directly impact the Board’s decisions
If you have questions, please contact Kevin Kanesaka at kevin@nyaikikai.com.