(New York, January 31, 2024) – The Boys & Girls Club of Queens is expanding their Long Island City location to fulfill their mission to “enable young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.” DLR Group – partnered with Mega Group Development, an Astoria-based developer and general contractor – leads the design for the BGCQ spaces within a mixed-use development.

The current 27,000-SF space is located on a half-square block lot on 21^st Street between 30^th Road and 30^th Drive. It houses a pool, theater, gym/arena, classrooms, a STEM lab, makers space, art and dance studios, a teaching kitchen, and more; all of which are there with the express purpose of providing educational, physical, nutritional, creative, and emotional support for their kids. Inadequate space and an aging infrastructure, however, have limited the BGCQ’s ability to serve as many children as possible. The expansion to 120,000 SF will enhance the organization’s ability to serve the children, staff, and community of Queens.

DLR Group’s design establishes a dramatic identity for the BGCQ, situating the planetarium – the jewel of the new expansion – within a transparent façade, offering glimpses to passersby of the vibrant programs underway. The facility’s spaces are designed for remarkable flexibility, and to instill in patrons a sense of wonder, opening their imagination to a world of new possibilities.

“We are excited for the next chapter of the Boys and Girls Club of Queens,” said BGCQ Chief Executive Officer Costa Constantinides. “With our new expansion, we will be able to serve up to 16,000 young people in our community providing them a world-class space to help them find their passions and capture their imagination. The first planetarium in Queens, a sports and e-gaming arena that sits 1000, a regulation swimming pool and more will provide every child the tools to dream big and become the leaders of the 21st century. BGCQ is excited to partner with DLR Group and Mega on this one-of-a-kind new building that is truly a unicorn for NYC.”

DLR Group will provide architectural, interior, theater planning, acoustic, lighting, audiovisual and low-voltage design services.

Design Development is currently underway.