The New York office of Perkins Eastman has congratulated New York City College of Technology and The City University of New York on the October groundbreaking of its new academic building. Designed by Perkins Eastman, the 365,000 sq ft, eight-storey academic complex is being constructed on the site of the former Klitgord Building at the corner of Jay and Tillary streets in Downtown Brooklyn. Construction is scheduled to be complete in spring 2017.
Aaron Schwarz FAIA, Executive Director of Perkins Eastman and Principal-in-Charge of the project, says: “In addition to providing much-needed program space for the students, this project will greatly contribute to Downtown Brooklyn’s emergence as a place of forward-looking design.” He continues: “We are proud to work with this extraordinary institution of higher learning to bring a new, 21st-century face to its growing campus.”
Located directly across from the school’s main campus at 300 Jay Street, the new academic building will significantly alter the face of City Tech, creating a new campus gateway along Jay Street and enhancing the surrounding urban context. The new building was designed to address City Tech’s rapid growth - of nearly 50% - in student enrollment over the past ten years and in recognition of the increasing reliance on cutting-edge technology solutions by every industry worldwide.
The new academic building will predominantly house laboratories, classrooms, faculty offices, clinic and support spaces to enhance the College’s health and science curriculum in radiology, dental hygiene (the oldest and largest in the New York metropolitan area), nursing, biological sciences, bio-research, chemistry, restorative dentistry, and vision care. Student life/recreation areas, a 1,000-seat auditorium, and a 800-seat spectator gymnasium will further enhance City Tech’s institutional strengths and community significance.
Featuring a high-performance glazing system and natural daylighting throughout to help reduce energy consumption, the project was designed to achieve Silver LEED certification. In its striking design - a cantilevered rectilinear academic volume hovering over the sculptural theatre, gymnasium, and main lobby - the new academic building creates a new identity for the college as well as complementing the local and surrounding context.