Built for the Food Clerk’s Union, this building is a standard corporate style office building, a flat two-story structure of white concrete and black aluminum windows, fronted by a minimally landscaped entrance courtyard and parking lot.
This interesting take on a local bank branch is now gone. Originally the design incorporated some traditional elements of Spanish architecture most notable a massive entry arch in concrete. Other interior features such as dark stained wood and specifically designed furniture were part of the overall scheme. Already by 1970, this part of Corona was notably Hispanic and is largely majority Spanish-speaking today. However, the local population now uses a Chase Bank branch interchangeable with other Chase branches across the city.
This nonprofit complex shows the increasing stripped down design of the late 1960s and early 1970s with very little decoration to speak of. The building is two stories and clad in pale brick and granite. There was a simple grillwork of cast stone screening a balcony to the right of the entrance that has been removed, making the structure even more spare.
This building’s 13-story tower is visible from most points on the Queens College campus, acting as a focal point for administrative and classroom uses. The structure consists of the central tower and several wings of varying heights. The finishes are brick and steel with aluminum panels and windows, and metal canopies over all entrances. Queens College went through a major expansion throughout the 1960s and five of its buildings won Building Awards including the Colden Center, dining hall, and this one being the last.
Unfortunately a rarity even by 1970, the Rose Ann Shearin Residence is an extant example of a woman-designed building, in this case by a woman named Rose Ann Shearin who designed it to evoke a West Coast aesthetic. The house is clad in white brick known as White Marsh designed to give it an an aged patina and the top floor incorporates a mansard roof. Wood-fronted balconies on both upper floors supported by columns have subsequently been removed.