Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center Sets a New Standard for Community-Focused Design

Delivering Resilient, Community-Focused Design at Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center

Thornton Tomasetti provided structural, façade, and civil engineering services for the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center, recently covered in The Architect’s Newspaper. 

The article highlights the project’s role as a new civic hub and its use of mass timber, which supports both sustainability goals and a warm, community-oriented interior environment. 

Designed by Studio Gang, the 74,000-square-foot facility brings together recreation, education, and public programming in a highly visible, accessible public space. 

The building’s façade incorporates brick-faced architectural precast panels fabricated off-site, supporting construction efficiency while enabling the building to remain compatible with its surroundings. 

The project has achieved LEED Platinum certification and reflects New York City’s continued investment in resilient, community-focused public infrastructure.

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