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Jacob Riis Settlement House Restored
The Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement House was built as a Community Center serving the Queensbridge Houses circa 1930. The Queensbridge Houses located on Vernon Boulevard were built as part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Described as “one of the best of city housing projects” in the AIA Guide to New York City, the handsome light brown brick buildings with red window frames, comprised the largest public housing project in the country when built in 1939.
The building is a two-story structure on a sloping site centrally located at 10-25 41st Avenue within the housing project. The symmetrical two story plan consists of the main entrance hall at the south elevation leading to a gymnasium / auditorium space with stage. Two small rooms in the stage wing area are being utilized as offices.
A wonderful tempera mural painted by Phillip Guston for the W.P.A covers the upper wall surface of the main entrance hall. A distinctive cast concrete bas-relief sculpture, also of W.P.A. vintage spans across the rear entrance at the north facade.
The overall goal of the restoration program was to repair and upgrade the facility, as well as provide barrier-free accessibility. After preparing a needs assessment report and feasibility study for the building, Hall Partnership Architects prepared the construction documents for the restoration of the exterior masonry envelope and roof, the cleaning and restoration of the mural and bas-relief sculpture, the creation of an office mezzanine within the auditorium stage and the installation of an elevator and masonry shaft at the east façade for ADA accessibility.
The completion of this restoration program has extended the life of the Jacob Riis Community Center and improved accessibility for all members of the community. The restoration of the mural and sculpture has preserved the WPA legacy for the enjoyment of another generation.
The building is a two-story structure on a sloping site centrally located at 10-25 41st Avenue within the housing project. The symmetrical two story plan consists of the main entrance hall at the south elevation leading to a gymnasium / auditorium space with stage. Two small rooms in the stage wing area are being utilized as offices.
A wonderful tempera mural painted by Phillip Guston for the W.P.A covers the upper wall surface of the main entrance hall. A distinctive cast concrete bas-relief sculpture, also of W.P.A. vintage spans across the rear entrance at the north facade.
The overall goal of the restoration program was to repair and upgrade the facility, as well as provide barrier-free accessibility. After preparing a needs assessment report and feasibility study for the building, Hall Partnership Architects prepared the construction documents for the restoration of the exterior masonry envelope and roof, the cleaning and restoration of the mural and bas-relief sculpture, the creation of an office mezzanine within the auditorium stage and the installation of an elevator and masonry shaft at the east façade for ADA accessibility.
The completion of this restoration program has extended the life of the Jacob Riis Community Center and improved accessibility for all members of the community. The restoration of the mural and sculpture has preserved the WPA legacy for the enjoyment of another generation.