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Projects   Project Portfolio – May 2005
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New York Hall of Science

Queens, N.Y.
Polshek Partnership Architects

Polshek Partnership's expansion brings vitality and new life to the Hall of Science, in a 1964 World’s Fair building, in Queens, New York


Photo © Jeff Goldberg / Esto

By Suzanne Stephens

It’s not easy to make something exciting out of leftovers. Especially unappetizing are some of the architectural remains from the New York 1964 World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens. The few buildings that were constructed on a permanent basis have been moldering for the past 40 years, as if waiting for Disney. Now at least the Hall of Science, designed by Wallace Harrison of Harrison & Abramovitz, has been turned into architectural haute cuisine with a spirited expansion by Polshek Partnership.

Although Wallace Harrison had famously designed the futuristic Trylon and Perisphere for the 1939 World’s Fair on the same site, his 1964 structure received negligible attention. The problem may have been due to the lack of critical acclaim for the World’s Fair in general: Under the leadership of the indomitable planner, Robert Moses (nicknamed “Fair Fuhrer”), the 1964 exposition lacked the innovative aura of its predecessor. Yet the Hall of Science––structurally and spatially––was unique, owing to its 80-foot-high undulating wall of tan poured-in-place concrete coffers. Moreover, the 5,400 coffers are filled with hand-faceted shards of cobalt blue glass held in a concrete matrix. The interior of the free-formed cellular concrete space of the Great Hall, as it is called, glows eerily, much like a cathedral designed by August Perret. This serpentine tower, now used for temporary video exhibitions, rises from a hexagonal base where permanent science exhibits are displayed within the articulated, muscular spaces of the exposed poured-in-place-concrete structure.

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the People

Owner
– City of New York Department of Design and Construction
– City of New York Department of Cultural Affairs
– New York Hall of Science

Architect
Polshek Partnership Architects
320 West 13th Street
New York, NY 10014
Tel: 212.807.7171
Fax 212.807.5917
www.polshek.com

Design Partner:
Todd H. Schliemann

Management Partner:
Joseph L. Fleischer

Project Manager:
Don Weinreich

Project Architect:
V. Guy Maxwell

Design Team:
John Allee, Ray Brown, Andrew Comfort, Eric Fauerbach, Jun Fujita, Karl Hirschmann, James Ke, Tara Leibenhaut, Sally Leung, Megan Miller, Kevin Miyamura, Alex O’Briant, Edgar Papazian, Charmian Place, Michael Regan, Will Rosebro, James Sinks, Brooks Slocum, Mick Stoddard, David Wallance

Interior designer:
Polshek Partnership Architects www.polshek.com

Engineer(s)
Structural:
Leslie E. Robertson Associates www.lera.com

MEP, Fire Protection, Security:
Flack + Kurtz Inc. www.flackandkurtz.com

Civil:
El Taller Colaborativo www.etcpc.com

Geotechnical, Environmental:
Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc. www.langan.com

Consultant(s)
Landscape:
Signe Nielsen Landscape Architects, PC

Lighting:
Brandston Partnership www.brandston.com

Acoustical:
Shen Milsom & Wilke (AV, Acoustics, Data, Telecom) www.smwinc.com

Graphic Design:
Poulin + Morris Design

Elevator:
Iros Elevator Design Services, Inc.

Specifications:
Robert Schwartz and Associates

Cost Consultant:
Wolf and Company www.wolfandco.com

Building Code:
Jerome S. Gillman Consulting Architect, PC

Food Service:
Hopkins Foodservice Specialists, Inc. www.hopkins-fs.com

Exhibit Support:
Infrastructure Hands On! Inc. www.hofl.org

Concrete Restoration:
Reginald Hough Concrete Consultant

NY City "Percent For Art" Artist:
James Carpenter Design Associates Inc. www.jcdainc.com

Sustainable Design Consultant:
Steven Winter Associates www.swinter.com

General contractor
Construction Manager:
Bovis Lend Lease www.bovislendlease.com

Photographer(s)
Jeff Goldberg/Esto, (914) 698-4060

CAD system, project management, or other software used
Microstation by Bentley Systems www.bentley.com

the Products

Exterior Materials
Brick Masonry:
Endicott Clay Products
www.endicott.com

Translucent Panels for Walls and Roof:
Kalwall Corporation www.kalwall.com

Curtainwall, Storefront Systems:
EFCO Corporation www.efcocorp.com

Structural Steel:
ADF Steel Corporation (subcontractor)

Glazing
Glass:
Viracon www.viracon.com; Contractors: W & W Glass Systems, Inc. www.wwglass.com

Roofing
Johns Mansville www.jm.com; contractor: National Roofing Corporation www.nationalroofingcorp.com

Doors
Interior Glass Doors:
Blumcraft www.blumcraft.com

Interior Materials/Finishes
Rubber Flooring:
Ecosurfaces www.ecosurfaces.com

Metal Ceilings:
Hunter Douglas www.hunterdouglas.com

Acoustic Panels:
DeCoustics www.decoustics.com

Carpet:
Blueridge www.blueridgecarpet.com, Bigelow www.bigelowcommercial.com
– Tile: Interface www.interfaceinc.com

Intumescent Coating:
AD Firefilm

Ornamental Metal Paint:
Tnemec www.tnemec.com

Wallcoverings:
Fabric covered panels: Maharam
www.maharam.com

Plastic laminate:
LaminArt www.laminart.com

Floor and wall tile:
Daltile (toilets) www.daltile.com

Resilient flooring:
Azrock www.tarkett-commercial.com

Furnishings
Office furniture:
Herman Miller www.hermanmiller.com

Reception furniture:
Herman Miller www.hermanmiller.com, ICF www.icfgroup.com

Chairs:
Knoll www.knoll.com, KI, Herman Miller www.hermanmiller.com

Tables:
KI www.ki.com, Howe www.howefurniture.com, Herman Miller www.hermanmiller.com

Upholstery:
Knoll www.knoll.com

Accessibility
Elevator:
Schindler Elevator Corporation www.schindler.com

Contractors and Installers
Plumbing:
Almar Plumbing

Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning:
A.D. Winston www.adwinstonservice.com

HVACDuctwork:
Heritage Air Systems

Electrical:
ASR Electrical Contracting, Inc.

Electrical, Primary Service:
H & L Electric, Inc.

Fire Protection:
Belrose Fire Supression

Fire Alarm Detection:
DavEd Fire Systems

Pile Foundations:
Falco Construction Corporation

Excavation and Foundations:
Mayrich Construction

General Contracting:
Meridian Consulting Group, R.P. Brennan www.meridian-consulting.com

Carpentry:
Cord Contracting

Painting:
L & L Painting

Millwork:
NJS Architectural Woodwork

Plaster Systems:
ABS Atlantic

Masonry:
H & F Masonry

Ornamental Metal:
Burgess Steel, L.L.C. www.burgesssteel.com

Signage:
Design Communications, Ltd. www.dclboston.com

Landscaping:
Kelco Landscaping, Inc.

Terrazzo:
TMC Terrazzo

Flooring:
 Resource New York

Concrete:
Cirocco & Ozzimo

Grilles:
Accurate Specialty Metals

Fencing:
Security Fence

Hollow Metal & Hardware:
Weinstein & Holtzman
www.doorsframesandhardware.com

Demolition:
LJC Dismantling
 
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