A New York architecture firm will lead the final phase of a $69 million expansion of the Queens Museum and develop a new children’s museum and state-of-the-art facility upgrades in energy efficiency and operational support.
The new children’s museum will be a multilingual, intergenerational learning center focused on arts and cultural programming.
Sally Tallant, the executive director of Queens Museum, said the expansion aims to bring together the evolving community.
“Art brings people together, and this expansion will enable the museum to grow and respond to the evolving needs of the many communities we serve,” Tallant said. “The children’s museum will be the beating heart of the Queens Museum, bringing new energy and excitement to our programs.”
The museum has selected the firm LEVENBETTS to oversee the design for the project.
“LEVENBETTS will realize the transformation of our physical space to match the ambitions of our education, exhibitions and public programs, bolstering our mission of presenting groundbreaking artworks that engage with the most pressing issues of our time,” Tallant said.
The architecture firm has worked on numerous projects across the city and is currently working on an affordable senior housing building in Forest Hills and the Baisley Park Library.
Stella Betts, a partner at LEVENBETTS, said the firm will design the new museum through a community-focused lens.
“LEVENBETTS is thrilled to be working with the Queens Museum. Our commitment to architecture in the public realm aligns with the museum’s mission of art, education and outreach to local communities. We are excited to create an inclusive architectural space for art and public programs that engage critical issues and speak to the communities served by the museum,” Betts said.
Queens Museum is located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The museum is closed Monday and Tuesday, but is open from noon to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
For more information, visit queensmuseum.org.
