Beautiful buildings grow at QBG

Sure the flowers and trees are beautiful at the Queens Botanical Garden, but now it is official, their buildings are too. They have two new awards to prove it.
The Queens Botanical Garden’s Visitor and Administration Center was honored Friday, September 26, with the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) Best in New York State Award.
Along with Best in New York State award, the Botanical Garden also received the AIA Award of Excellence in the institutional category and has previously received design awards from both the national and local chapters of the AIA. Part of the Botanical Garden’s Sustainable Landscapes and Building Project, the V&A Center, designed by BKSK Architects LLP, beat over 250 other nominees.
Attending the AIA Awards Ceremony were BKSK Partner George Schieferdecker, the Queens Botanical Garden’s Executive Director Susan Lacerte, BKSK Partner and Lead Architect for the Queens Botanical Garden Joan Krevlin and BKSK Partner Harry Kendall.
The Queens Botanical Garden’s Visitor and Administration Center is the most advanced green building in New York City. Mayor Bloomberg cited the building as a major asset in the city’s PlaNYC 2030, the ambitious program to cut New York City’s carbon emissions by 30 percent by the year 2030. The Visitor and Administration Center has earned several prestigious awards, including the LEED Platinum Certification—the highest national standard for sustainability—from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Located at 43-50 Main Street in Flushing, Queens Botanical Garden is easily accessible by car, train or bus. Parking is available in the Garden’s lot on Crommelin Street. For travel directions and more information, visit www.queensbotanical.org or call 718-886-3800.