CITATION

LaGuardia Community College, part of the City University of New York system, is located in Long Island City, New York.

The CUNY LaGuardia Community College Façade and Lobby Renovation Project, submitted by Mitchell Giurgola, transformed the 100-yearold, one million square-foot Center III Building in Long Island City into a structure that aims to support the activities of the College for the next century. The Project involved two major scopes of work: the complete replacement of the exterior cladding of the building, inclusive of all aspects of the ground floor, sidewalks, and signature billboard signage at the top of the building; and a reinvention of the entrance sequence and lobby of a building that serves hundreds of occupants daily.

On the exterior, years of neglect, patching, inadequate and sometimes damaging repairs contributed to exterior wall failures including chunks of terracotta falling from the building. A sidewalk shed to protect pedestrians from falling objects surrounded the building for over a decade while potential solutions were considered. The design team was directed to develop a new exterior cladding that respected the long history of terra cotta use on the façade, and to incorporate contemporary technology in the form of a unitized curtainwall system.

The Project also afforded an opportunity to reinvent the lobby and entrance sequence of the building, improving clarity, security, and flow. Multiple entrances, which created confusion, were reduced to one canopied primary entrance in the center of the front façade, where security was concentrated. This had the effect of opening additional interior space at the well-lit corner of the building for casual meeting, study, and eating space. A two-story signature stair was added, for direct connection to the public spaces of the second floor.

Gansevoort Row is a group of five contiguous structures in the Gansevoort Market Historic District in New York City. Submitted by BKSK Architects, their redevelopment for a single owner was created from eleven buildings that had undergone various interventions in their existence, and were left as underutilized commercial spaces. The project required a complex proposal to the Landmarks Preservation Commission which was unanimously confirmed.

The full-block design celebrates the many periods-of-significance within this historic district—a showcase for utilitarian brick buildings of multiple eras, many with a compelling interplay of masonry materials.

The architectural interventions of the three smallest buildings might go unnoticed, as they involve transformation for modern retail by restoration and interior reconfiguration. The two largest buildings include an 80,000 sf vertical expansion and new construction; appearing separate yet are linked by one core. For 60-68 Gansevoort Street, BKSK restored the two-story surviving vestige of a five-story, 19th century tenement as the base for a dialogue between old and new. This includes detailing a brick façade for three new upper floors and employing a contemporary brick screen to highlight points of interest such as the “ghosts” of former chimney flues, window lintels and cornices. The new 70-74 Gansevoort Row completes the block as a six-story building, evoking the gravitas of the grand warehouses within the surrounding blocks. It anchors the corner with a visually striking masonry building composed of prominent large-arched bays, as a homage to the district’s overall industrial-strength character.

An anchor block is a significant addition to a thriving commercial area, creating a gateway from popular tourist destinations, The Whitney Museum, and the High Line to the neighborhood.

ADAPTIVE REUSE, HISTORIC PRESERVATION GANSEVOORT ROW

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

SUBMITTED BY: BKSK ARCHITECTS