Queens Botanical Garden Education Building

The Queens Botanical Garden (QBG) is a nexus of botanical and cultural exploration for the most ethnically diverse neighborhood in the country, Queens, NY. The new QBG Education Building (submitted in the Unbuilt Award Category) is designed to be a built extension of the Garden’s mission: to demonstrate environmental stewardship while celebrating the cultural connections between people and plants.

This new Education Building is sited in the southwest portion of the Garden, taking advantage of an overgrown and underused hillside. The site is adjacent to a teaching farm, directly opposite the Parking Garden, and visible from the Garden’s Main St entrance. It is in proximity to outdoor spaces that will used by the Education Program. An open meadow across from the site houses a multitude of public programs which currently have limited access to restrooms and information. This building will provide much needed teaching space (classrooms, solarium, teaching kitchen) for the growing education program while doubling as a resource for all visitors in this underserved portion of the garden. It will also provide administration space for the expanding education and horticultural staff.

The design is intended to continue the Garden’s demonstration of environmental stewardship in ways that are tangible to its diverse audience, specifically through:
– Exceptional energy efficiency and environmental performance for all design and engineering elements
– Efficient and artful integration of indoor and outdoor program spaces, as well as the harmonious integration of the building into the landscape
– A legible and creative display of QBG’s sustainability initiatives and environmental sensitivity.

Designed to be net-zero ready and on target for LEED Platinum certification, this building is part of a portfolio of public buildings built by the City of New York to further their commitment to address climate change and to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050.