Queens Museum

New York, USA

Project details
Client

Queens Museum

Architect

Grimshaw Architects

Duration

Completed in 2013

Services provided by Buro Happold

Building Information Management (BIM), Building Services Engineering (MEP), Lighting design

As part of an ambitious renovation scheme, in 2013 the Queens Museum of Art was expanded into the southern half of the New York City Building, previously occupied by the World’s Fair Ice Skating Rink. The expansion doubled the size of the museum’s footprint, adding an 105,000ft² to accommodate new galleries, performance and event spaces, as well as much needed new educational studios and enhanced office and other back-of-house facilities, greatly improving the functionality of the museum.

Challenge

Buro Happold provided a range of services for the scheme, while working closely with the rest of the project team to achieve the client’s aspirations of promoting openness and community in a sustainable manner.

Queens Museum arts center centre new york usa
Delivering a building with exemplary sustainable features was a key aim for our team. Image: David Sundberg / Esto

Solution

As part of the project our team considered the effectiveness of the facade, carrying out thermal modeling to identify areas that were underperforming and in need of improvement. This initial analysis allowed us to influence the detailing of the floor and glazing to ensure optimal performance.

With the aim to deliver a building with exemplary sustainable features, our team specified a dedicated outdoor handling system with displacement ventilation, allowing the load on the heating and cooling plan to be reduced while also minimizing fan energy. To complement the overall environmental approach, our team implemented daylighting that is complimented by high efficiency lighting.

Further adding to the project’s sustainable credentials, we carefully considered the use of water in the museum, introducing storm and waste water management. Our team also incorporated low flow fixtures into their approach, which has resulted in a 20% reduction in the amount of drinking water wasted. The combination of strategies has resulted in a predicted 21% reduction in annual energy consumption overall.

Queens Museum arts center centre new york usa
The combination of strategies has resulted in a predicted 21% reduction in annual energy consumption overall. Image: David Sundberg / Esto

Value

Meeting the client’s intent to create openness, both in the physical space itself and in the experience it offers its visitors, the Queens Museum now has extensive and impressive facilities to showcase a diverse range of artworks to the New York community.

The museum expansion significantly added to the built environment of Queens, and brings it and Flushing Meadows Corona Park, of which it is a part, to the attention of a much greater audience. The museum’s permanent collection, which includes the Panorama of the City of New York, remains in its current location in the original northern half of the building, while new gallery space in the southern half of the building houses temporary exhibitions.

Queens Museum arts center centre new york usa
The extension to the Queens Museum doubled the institution’s footprint in size, and created an impressive new entrance plaza. Image: David Sundberg / Esto

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