JLGA (JACK L. GORDON ARCHITECTS) founded in 1969 is a New York-based firm that provides its expertise in architectural and interior designing services for the past 50 years. The firm focuses on approaching design through a very client-centered perspective and designing to overcome the challenges developed through collaboration with clients and helps the clients envision and achieve their goals through master planning. Most of the projects by the firm are based on renovation and expansion and focus on redesigning without losing the actual integrity and history of the structure while incorporating sustainability in it.
The following are the 15 featured projects by the firm:
1. THE NOVOGRATZ CENTER OF ATHLETIC
Located in Brooklyn, New York; the facility provides multiple programs for athletics and is capable of hosting the high profile athletics tournaments. On a 27,900 sq. ft. area with a faceted feature wall and glass storefront on the entrance façade the design creates continuity by exposing the adjacent wall from the gymnasium inside the enclosed lobby. The outdoor staircase is angled to provide views to the poly prep athletics field and Verrazano Bridge integrating the new and contemporary buildings into the existing campus. An interplay of the angular structure is created through an angled wall that encloses the staircases and responds well with the façade.
2. NIGHTINGALE BAMFORD SCHOOL
To address the concerns of overcrowding and inadequate conditions of the building, JLGA architects developed a master plan for the Nightingale Bamford School, an NYC’s most prestigious girls private school founded by Frances Nicolau Nightingale and Maya Stevens Bamford in 1920. The plan established the programmatic requirements and the options to expand for immediate and long term goals. It reconfigured educational facilities: classrooms, a lunchroom, a two-story library, a gymnasium, and a multipurpose auditorium by expanding the building from adjacent to, below, and above the existing structure of the school due to its tight urban site.
3. CITI FIELD INFRASTRUCTURE
A schematic design by JLGA to design the 55 Acre area surrounding the new 42,000 seats operable dome baseball stadium in Flushing, Queens, NY; emphasizing on the connection between the existing site and its surrounding, the flushing meadows- corona Park and Flushing Bay, reconfiguring the Willets Point subway station to enhance the pedestrian circulation. Sustainability was the core component of the design hence a smarter draining system, permeable pavers to reduce pollution and cutoff mast high light poles in the parking area to reduce light pollution, with hundreds of trees were planted on the site, low sulfur diesel fuel used in all construction material, the design even includes the moving mechanisms for the roof and movable playing fields, alternative seating layouts and sightlines for arena events.
4. PUBLIC SCHOOL 217
Located in the Midwood neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, JLGA renovated and expanded the school to meet the increasing needs placed upon the school. JLGA developed a phasing program for the modernization of the existing 77,000 sq. ft. building. The new and remodeled interiors of the old structure reflect the concerns of parents, teachers, and administrators about overcrowded facilities, inadequate building systems, the introduction of new educational philosophies, and multilingual programs. A new 34,000 sq. ft. wing was added through floor to floor construction basis during the school year to allow students and teachers to exchange undersized classrooms for up to date internet-ready facilities.
5. PAUL STUART NEW YORK
JLGA carved the new women’s department from the Paul Stuart men’s in Madison Avenue’s new mezzanine level, discretely situating it in between the first and second levels. With the mezzanine concept, the store was offered to use the additional retail space within the existing volume without sacrificing space. To create a relaxed and unforced feeling in the compacted space, architects used graceful curves that characterized many of the design details from showcase to the elegant balcony railing and to the flowing lines of the new ceiling configuration to show the intelligent use of space.
6. JONES BEACH MARINE THEATRE
Situated within the Jones beach state park, it provides the finest aquatic sports and musical entertainment. JLGA was appointed to develop a renovation and expansion program for the theater to update its aging theatre and the plaza and to increase the seating capacity. The initial project consisted of plaza design, auxiliary concessions, and a restroom pavilion. It provides improved services and strongly reinforces the design of the existing theatre. 4000 additional seats, restrooms, concession areas, and private suites were added to cater to the need for greater capacity.
7. TRADITION FIELD
JLGA was appointed to renovate and expand the 7,000 seat spring training facility in Florida. It was renovated to include the improved and new amenities such as picnic terraces, seating areas, office expansion, locker facilities, the inclusion of a new elevator tower and façade. An aquatic rehabilitation facility was also included by providing wet training suites for athletes and trainers.
8. MCU PARK
Previously known as the KeySpan Park Stadium in Brooklyn, NY; it serves as both a new home for the NY Mets’ Minor League Affiliates, and Brooklyn Cyclones Baseball Team. A 7,500 seat stadium was made to create an intimate beachside venue for the baseball fans and event attendees including luxury suites, restroom facilities, food services, and retail concessions. Playful building forms, use of bright colors and iconic circular field lighting creates a festive atmosphere.
9. CONEY ISLAND BREWERY
Situated in New York, the temporary space was flooded by superstorm sandy. The new 1,700 sq. ft., a microbrewery is back in operation with slate and metal-framed bars and matching standing bar, both cladded in corrugated steel. The use of weather-worn color pallets reflects Coney island’s rustic charm. The tasting room and the brewing is divided by the standing bars.
10. JACQUELINE KENNEDY-ONASSIS HIGH SCHOOL
Formerly known as the High School of Performing Arts located in New York, JLGA was appointed to lead the complex renovation of the Romanesque Revival Style School including the restoration of the landmarked façade, reconstruction of the copper mansard roof, and the construction of new elevator and stair core, new classrooms, library, a multipurpose gymnasium, and a 250 seat theater.
11. JTS KRIPKE TOWER
The entrance tower to the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York served as the library stack until the fire destroyed the inner core in 1966. JLGA developed a master plan reconstructing the tower and using the unused space to mend the fabric of the campus by joining two adjacent building wings in a way not possible before. New floors were inserted for classrooms, offices, meeting rooms, faculty center, and computer and language labs with an enclosed breezeway for the dramatic entrance in the main lobby to welcome people.
12. AVIATOR SPORTS AND EVENTS CENTER
Located in Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn New York, it’s an 8.4-acre multi-use sports and recreation center, comprising 4 historic airplane hangars into an indoor sports facility with two regulation-size hockey rinks, a hardwood gymnasium, gymnastic center, and an indoor climbing wall. The main emphasis of the design was to complement the existing field and capture the history of Floyd Bennet field while providing an exciting and accessible state of art recreation facility.
13. FORDHAM UNIVERSITY JOHN MULCAHY HALL
Located in Bronx, NY, JLGA redesigned the hall to reinvigorate the aging building and maximize its potential as an educational facility as the older one could not meet the needs of the students and the staff. With no interactive space for the students apart from the terrace which could only be used in warmer months, the lobby was transformed into a student lounge. The terraces were then transformed in seminar halls by covering them in the glass. It was designed into a more active learning environment for the existing departments of math, computer science, and chemistry by introducing digital welcome walls across the elevator for department-specific news.
14. MOUNT SINAI BROOKLYN LOBBY
To upgrade the first floor of the Mount Sinai Health System in Brooklyn JLGA included the redesign of ground floor elevators and stairs, restrooms, conference room/ emergency command center and corridors and leveled the existing lobbies on both the ground and first floor. An Annex was constructed expanding form the ADA-complaint lobby of the main hospital’s outpatient and inpatient facility. This redesign brightened the welcoming presence of Mount Sinai.
15. SUTEISHI
The restaurant located in Manhattan, NY was severely damaged due to the hurricane Sandy Flood surge in October 2012. JLGA was appointed to redesign the new restaurant working in the confinements of the existing structure and create a fresh new image. They created an open floor plan and adaptive furniture layout transforming it from high capacity, quick turnover lunch service into a relaxed, casual atmosphere for evening dining.
