The MDSA-designed Pre-K Center in Queens opened in September 2022. The school exhibits a mixture of colors, materials and textures, common in the work of the firm, and fitting to the Mosaic name.
The new center features include –
- Serving the Corona neighborhood, the new three-story school is located near the New York Hall of Science in Flushing Meadow Park.
- Façade articulation and material palette blend with surroundings.
- Landscape areas provide outdoor-play space available to local residents after school hours.
- Expansive glass surfaces with shade control permit significant natural light to interiors.
- Energy-modeling design maximizes green‑school credits.
- Glass enclosed main stair provides views to play areas and park and makes a connection to the Hall of Science.
The facility includes 17 classrooms for 306 students and two multi‑purpose rooms. The interiors use a variety of materials that link together the common and classroom spaces with a soft yet vibrant color palette. The building is a concrete structure with a highly efficient precast‑concrete, curtain‑wall, and metal‑rainscreen envelope that exceeds energy‑code requirements.
Client
Completion Date
Fall 2022
Size
33,000 SF
Services Provided
Full Architectural Services
Programming/Feasibility Study
Schematic Design, Design Development and Construction Documents, Construction Administration
Project Type
New Building
The design incorporates a variety of materials including architectural precast concrete, metal panel, aluminum and glass curtain wall, and terra cotta for a sophisticated, yet playful aesthetic. The community playground is open to the public after school hours, providing a safe place to play and socialize, with a variety of play structures and both sun and shade seating. Classrooms are organized in modules along the East face. Each classroom features a bay of three pairs of sawtooth‑configured windows with colored terracotta accents that match the room interiors.
The glass-enclosed stair offers a place to pause and enjoy the view of the park and the neighboring NY Hall of Science. A precast panel appears as if it were pulled out to reveal a window. Sawtooth windows are partially shaded by projecting precast with inlaid colorful terracotta tile.
