Portfolio

Flushing Town Hall, an early Romanesque Revival building and a New York City Landmark, was built as the governmental center for the town of Flushing in 1862. Acquired by the Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts in 1991, the building now serves as a cultural center, with performances of classical and popular music and dance from various cultures, theater, art exhibitions, lectures, and educational programs for children and adults. The Art Gallery stages exhibits throughout the year. Live jazz concerts and cabaret performances are put on in the Great Hall, a theater that can be converted between typical auditorium seating and cabaret-style tables.

There are various conditions at Flushing Town Hall that prohibit the Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts from functioning fully and adequately. As a cultural institution, the HVAC systems are required to produce a museum quality en­vironment to support the art exhibits. However, the HVAC systems do not provide the temperature and humidity ca­pability needed, limiting their efficacy. The flooring in the the­ater, as well as all flooring on the first level west of and including the corridor, has become worn to the point that its structural integrity and safety have come into question.

In order to make the neces­sary upgrades to the HVAC system, the DDC engaged Belmont Architects and JFK&M to do a preliminary investigation and study. JFK&M has replaced the existing HVAC system with new, more efficient equipment which increases performance and meets refrigera­tion codes. JFK&M has also replaced the control system with a new direct digital control system. The lighting in the town hall was upgraded, and a closed-circuit TV for security was installed.