East Harlem’s Washington Houses Community Center has been transformed into an updated, state-of-the-art youth and senior center. Andrew Franz Architect reimagined the 60-year-old New York City structure from its original design into a new 1022 m2 (11,000 sf) community facility.
Through the doors, an expanded reception area full of natural light from new skylights opens to a multi-use space with stepped bleacher-style wood seating with colored art and finished accents.
Then extending to various function rooms, including the library, education center, classrooms, and computer lab, plus the senior center by the entry lounge, offices, and services with varied opportunities for Union Settlement to serve its different constituencies. The community center presents work by local artists, such as East Harlem artist Kristy McCarthy’s mixed-media art installation “Welcome Home” which features images and patterns representing the diverse ethnicities and history of the neighborhood.
Along with Andrew Franz Architect, the project team included the contractor SPK | Lewis; the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing firm Plus Group Consulting Engineers; the cost estimator Ellana Inc., code consultant JMV Associates; and Design One Lighting Design. Other contributors included muralist Alice Mizrachi, installation artist Kristy McCarthy, and art consultant Angel Bellaran.
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