Project Description
FROM THE ARCHITECTS:
This new off- site primary care clinic is
one in a series of new neighborhood
practices intended to raise the profile
of the New York Hospital Queens in
the surrounding community. Located
in Astoria, on a corner site along the
busy thoroughfare of 30th Avenue, the
distinctive design is intended to give this
satellite facility a powerful presence in
the neighborhood.
A new entrance canopy was added to
provide shelter and act as an emblem
for the facility. The canopy leads into a
ceiling plane within the waiting room;
visible from the exterior it creates a
strong form along the street.
A perforated metal screen was used to
mask the irregular pattern of existing
windows on the ground floor. The
screen allows daylight to enter during
the day and artificial light to emit a
mysterious glow on the exterior in the
evening. Floating above the newly
clad ground floor, the second story
brick box is unchanged save for the
front elevation where the two existing
windows were combined into one
overt horizontal opening increasing the
natural light in the upper waiting room
and forming a distinct composition
in harmony with the glass and steel
elevation below.
The two-story brick building was
completely gutted to accommodate
new exam and consultation rooms.
The main circulating corridor on both
floors is located along the perimeter of
the cross street to allow natural light
to enter into the patient area. Waiting
rooms on the first and second floor
will allow ample amounts of controlled
natural light into the space.
Distinct geometric volumes interact with
each other at the reception desk and
a new boldly-colored enclosed stair
volume provides a dramatic transition
between floors and is also visible from
the street. In addition, an illuminated
ceiling spills light onto the sidewalk
through the floor to ceiling glass
contributing to the unique presence of
NYHQ in the surrounding area.