Architecture firm chosen for the new athletic center at Medgar Evers College

whynot_31 · October 2015

I'm working on the info, but can tell you that MEC has been in the process of raising funds for a new athletic center. I think it will be built on the presently vacant lot at the NE corner of Franklin and Crown.

It seems the process is moving along.
An architecture firm has announced it was chosen to do the work:

mec

https://twitter.com/SYArchitecture/status/654379529352388608

http://www.syarchitecture.com/

This project, along with other investments in MEC, are rapidly making it into a first rate, 4 year, BA granting, CUNY school.

crownheightster · October 2015

It would be great if the kids at MEdgsr college prep could use they gym, too. My understanding is that they don't have gym facilities.

whynot_31 · October 2015

Here's the corner where I believe the Athletic Center will be constructed:

Screen shot 2015-10-14 at 11.05.33 PM

Four, seven story buildings will occupy the SW corner of this same intersection: http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/comment/565603/#Comment_565603

Ready for 2018?

dmiami2 · October 2015

I think this is actually the renovation of the existing gym which is on Crown btw Rogers and Nostrand. Which happens to be next to a different, new, 5 story apt building. So this whole section is going to look different soon.

The firm is apparently updating the whole building, which spans the whole block. Main entrance on Carroll, gym entrance on Crown (which is being updated).

"The $8M renovation of the historic Carroll Street Building, which includes the expansion of the Athletic Center, is the first phase of a $22M multi-phase major renovation of the entire 145,000 sf building. SYA prepared the master plan for the dramatic transformation of the building which includes major renovations, new infrastructure, and the creation of a new, more welcoming entry elevation."

whynot_31 · October 2015

Ah, that does resemble the general shape of the above rendering.

I do not think I have ever been in that building.

dmiami2 · October 2015

The rendering looks like they are copying elements of the main entrance from the new building on Bedford and Crown.

whynot_31 · October 2015

yup, which will help MEC gain the feel of a 4 year college campus.

...just a few years ago, it felt like an underfunded community college that had been cobbled together from a bunch of defunct DOE buildings.

When they finally secure funding for the lot on the corner of Franklin and Crown, my mind will likely define the transformation as complete.

dmiami2 · October 2015

We'll see if they close Crown street for the campus mall. I understand they still really want to do that, rather than redesign the street. If they do close Crown it would make a significant difference in the campus.

whynot_31 · October 2015

Completely closing Crown may need to wait a while.

I might focus on filling the vacant lot at Franklin and Crown first, and making that building be the focus of its academic identity: Social Work? Teaching? Nursing program?

The school has such programs currently, but may benefit from branding itself as the premier CUNY location for one of them.

mugofmead111 · October 2015

Re: nursing within CUNY - Hunter is already known for that. Now, MEC may want to play up the associates nursing program. (By the way, there is a movement to change the minimum credential for RNs in NYS to a bachelor's degree-BSN in ten.)

whynot_31 · October 2015

We are likely to see a snowball effect, wherein nicer buildings and facilities are able to better compete with other colleges for faculty and students.

In turn, this will allow the college to obtain nicer buildings and facilities...