New center added at Maple Grove Cemetery

A new center under construction at Maple Grove Cemetery in Kew Gardens will be the latest addition to the geothermal buildings in New York City.
Maple Grove describes the center as “a new gateway to the park like a landscape of the cemetery.”
The architect of the center, Peter Gisolfi, of Peter Gisolfi Associates, spoke on Saturday, October 6, about the design of the center and gave a short tour of the building.
During the presentation, Gisolfi discussed the historic use of cemeteries as parks.
“Before Central Park and Bryant Park, cemeteries were the closest thing to a park. People used to bring their picnic baskets to the cemetery,” he told those in attendance.
The presentation was part of the fifth annual Openhousenewyork Weekend, which celebrates the diversity of city architecture.
The weekend consisted of a variety of tours and activities including lectures and tours at multiple buildings in all five boroughs.
The Maple Grove building has been LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified. Gisolfi discussed the materials used in the construction of the center, noting that they were all permanent materials, reflecting the intention of the building “to be up forever,” he said.
The center was built to face the street in order to welcome the community. A geothermal system will keep the building heated and cooled, allowing for low-impact energy consumption.
Stephanie Christie of Middle Village attended the lecture and tour with her young son.
“I wanted to learn more about geothermal sustainable buildings. I am looking to build a house and I want it [geothermal heating and cooling] incorporated,” Christie said.
When completed, the center will be 18,000-square-feet and will be a unique structure unlike any structure at any other cemetery in the country. The center will include two rooms of glass front niches for the interment of cremated remains. The niche’s design allows space for photos or other memorabilia to be displayed with the urn of ashes.
In addition, the center will also include a Celebration Pavilion that will serve as a location for family reunions or for people to commemorate the anniversary of a loved ones’ passing. There will also be a family room to serve as a space for families to gather quietly. Both of these rooms will include a view of the cemetery’s landscape.