Recent talks of upgrading World’s Fair relics seem to focus on the New York State Pavilion.
But the Olmsted Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, which was constructed in 1964 and used as temporary offices for Robert Moses and the World’s Fair Corporation staff during the colossal event, is also getting a makeover.
The Parks Department announced Aug. 4 that it is collecting bids for a contractor to renovate the center, which is named in honor of Frederick Law Olmsted, co-designer of Central, Prospect and Riverside parks. Today, the building houses the bulk of the agency’s capital project staff.
The renovation project, which is designed by BKSK Architects, is split in two phases.
The first is the expansion of the center with a new 10,000-square-foot annex building, which is nearing completion.
The second phase, which will commence in early 2015, will technologically enhance the building and resolve flooding problems. It will include a new water channel system to lead water into bioswales that will contain and absorb it.
The renovated building will include Kebony wood for the walkways, complimented by steel railings and stainless steel cabling.
The construction will also include new siding to improve the center’s resistance to weather, and reconfiguration of the interior to accommodate employees and people with disabilities.
The bids are due Sept. 8.
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