Queens, NY

The Jamaica Bay Wildlife refuge, a unit of Gateway National Recreation Area, is one of the most important urban wildlife refuges in the United States. It takes up 9,000 acres within the NYC limits.

This project is a renovation and upgrade of the former Parks Department building. The intent was to provide the staff with a safe, attractive, and functional facility within which to carry out administrative activities, visitor services, maintenance functions, and to hold public programs. This project consists of the addition of a new visitor center and maintenance facility with a lecture space and refurbished display room. By making the Visitor’s Center an environmental demonstration project, utilizing the Systems Sustainable Design, the project achieved a LEED Bronze rating.

Architect: Beyer Blinder Belle Architects

Client: National Park Service