NEW YORK—The NYC Housing Authority has opened a community center to serve the West Harlem residents of three low- and middle-income housing complexes. Designed by MDSzerbaty+Associates Architecture for the NYC Housing Authority, the 23,000-sq.-ft. facility offers recreational, educational and social programs to local families and children.
The facility, which was budgeted at $13M, includes a gym, classrooms, meeting spaces, a multi-purpose space and a commercial kitchen. A video room and sound booth are also included. Programs offered at the center are being provided by The Children’s Village, a public/private partnership that works with area youth.
Construction costs were contained by using metal for the roof and upper walls and masonry below. Skylights brighten the main corridor, and windows near the roofline bring natural light into the classrooms and gym.