John O'Malley and Associates | Bronze Plaque for Public Buildings | Extant | Long Island City | Religious Building | 1969 | The front facade of this community center is dominated by a tiled mosaic in bright oranges and reds above the entrance and fronting a center stairhall. The rest of the exterior is tan brick with limestone trim. The award program also claims the building featured a motorized assembly hall, an unusual descriptor that could possibly refer to the ability to alter the space to serve other purposes.
Raymond Irrera Associates | Bronze Plaque for Public Buildings | Extant | Corona | Public Building | 1968 | As noted in the original awards program, the Corona Library is a simple steel frame with the roof deck laid over bar joists. Most of what can be seen today on the exterior is part of an extensive renovation and upgrade by Gruzen Samton (also a firm which has received Queens Chamber awards). There is a minimal brick and metal facade covering and originally the entrance was recessed, but has since been filled in with a contemporary glass storefront. Gruzen Samton’s project also address modern needs such as ADA compliance and adding much-needed space with a light-filled reading room at the rear.
Kontakosta, E. M. | Bronze Plaque for Public Buildings | Extant | Jamaica | Public Building | 1963 | This funeral home used a variety of materials and decorative details to evoke a contemporary design. The compact building is surrounded by a parking lot and on one side a step down canopy covers access from the driveway into the building. The building is clad in a gold-colored Roman brick and the window and door surrounds are gold colored aluminum. To the left of the entrance is a striking white decorative block screen which rises above the roofline. The interior incorporates brick, terrazzo, and walnut paneling.
Salkowitz, A. H. | Bronze Plaque for Public Buildings | Extant | Long Island City | Public Building | 1967 | Some of the Queens Modern winners feature the use of new materials and here at the former Veterans of Foreign Wars meeting hall (since a church and now a special events space), the cornice is made of Granolux, which was a mid-century composite coating of marble and granite. It seems to have been a difficult material and is not mentioned frequently. The doors and windows are mirrored and the facade is glazed brick. The elaborate eagle flagpole dating from the veterans’ days remains today.
Brodsky Hopf and Adler | Bronze Plaque for Public Buildings | Demolished | Flushing | Public Building | 1963 | This administration building was constructed in 1963, on the site of the new Queens Botanical Garden. The previous garden was in Flushing Meadows Park but was moved to a neighboring plot to accommodate construction for the 1963-64 World’s Fair. The building had stone walls and glass expanses to allow for viewing out onto the garden. Slate floors, exposed wooden beams, and wooden decks also helped the building blend into its surroundings.
