Charles S. Colden Center of Music & Speech of Queens College

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Address: Queens College
Neighborhood: Flushing
Architect:  Fellheimer and Wagner
Year: 1961
Current Status: Extant
Award:  Special Bronze Plaque
Typology:  School or College

This major addition to the Queens College campus received a Special Bronze Plaque in 1961. Containing new theaters, classrooms, workshops, rehearsal spaces, a television studio, and a speech clinic, each component of the complex is a different shape. Two major theater spaces, the Colden Auditorium (originally seating 2,143) and the Queens College Theatre (seating 500) face out onto the street, while the rest of the complex faces inward. The other components are separate music and speech wings and a speech clinic. Unusually, the central component is an outdoor amphitheatre accessed by covered walkways between the classroom wings. All buildings are clad in white brick with some accents in light blue. Original metal lettering is visible throughout.

From 2010-2012, the theater spaces and music building were renovated and updated by WASA Studio A, the successor firm to the original architects Fellheimer and Wagner. But other than the exterior of the Colden Auditorium, most visible major changes occurred on the interior of the complex.

Sources:

“Queens College, A Historical Series: Colden Auditorium: past, present and future” Knight News, 27 Mar. 2012. Web.

“Queens College Marks Completion of Renovations to Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony” CUNY.edu 12 June 2012. Web.

“Queens College, City University of New York (CUNY), Kupferberg Center for the Performing Arts, Queens, NY” WASALLP.com. Web.