Hangars 3 and 4
Hangars 3 + 4 at Floyd Bennett Field Nature Tech Hub and Event Space
Queens, NY
49,500 sq. ft.
LTL is currently working with Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy and in collaboration with the National Parks Service on the adaptive reuse of hangars 3 and 4 at Floyd Bennett Field. The hangars, built as part of NYC's first municipal airport in 1931,represent a rich resource for revitalizing this historic and ecologically varied site and the project proposes a dynamic mix of activities to serve the adjacent community and park.
The two interconnected hangars will accommodate distinct but related programs: Hangar 3 will house public functions, including Park Service programming, a series of food stalls, and a performance venue. Moveable elements including a modular stage, mobile tables, and a large curtain will allow for flexibility of use. Hangar 4 is envisioned as a hub for the development of nature-based technologies, incorporating spaces for both researchers and entrepreneurs. Labs, offices, and social spaces are arranged around a central ‘street’ on axis with the hangar doors, animated by platforms for demonstrations and informal exchange. The parallel buildings along this central space set back and erode at the upper level to ensure views to the historic trusses.
Echoing the planes sheltered by the original hangar, the new architecture is comprised of mass timber volumes nested within the wide-span structure - buildings within the larger building. The CLT materiality of the new structures eliminates the need for extensive concrete foundations, speeds on site construction, and facilitates future disassembly.
Sheltered from wind, rain, and sun, the new construction allows for a high degree of energetic efficiency that takes advantage of the interior microclimate of the hangar spaces, minimizing the need for artificial conditioning and insulation. The operability of the historic hangar doors will be restored, allowing the interior programs to connect to the plaza and park beyo nd and for natural ventilation during the shoulder seasons.Repurposing a large, historically significant structure and maximizing the use of biogenic materials and prefabrication, the design of hangars 3 and 4 at FBF seeks to reduce embodied carbon, revitalize underutilized infrastructure, and contribute to the resiliency and activation of this rich and dynamic site.
Type
Credits
Client: Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy
Project Team: Paul Lewis, Marc Tsurumaki, David J. Lewis; Anna Knoell,
Kyle Reich, Celia Chaussabel, Michelle Schneider
Structural Engineer: Silman/Ty Lin Mechanical Engineer: ME Engineers / Environmental Consultant: Derive
Code Consultant: J Callahan Consulting Inc. CCI
Owner’s Representative: Sterling Project Development