Coney Island Portal opens.The new Stillwell Avenue Portal Building at Coney Island Coney Island (kō`nē), beach resort, amusement center, and neighborhood of S Brooklyn borough of New York City, SE N.Y., on the Atlantic Ocean. , designed by diDomenico + Partners, has opened. In a strategic location adjacent to NYC NYC abbr. New York City NYC New York City Transit's main Coney Island Terminal, the new Portal Building acts as an important connection between the terminal and Surf Avenue, a major thoroughfare for visitors to the popular beachfront beach·front n. A strip of land facing or running along a beach. adj. Situated along or having direct access to a beach: beachfront hotels; beachfront property. Noun 1. community. The building encompasses over 33,000 s/f of space to house functions of the NYC Police Department's District 34 offices and a ground floor arcade of retail shops. The site was previously occupied by a one-story arcade building that also served as a portal to the subway entrance. In developing their design concept, the architects have chosen a contemporary, updated interpretation of the "Playland" style that is the legacy of Coney coney or cony (both: kō`nē), name used for the rabbit (Oryctolagus) and for its fur; more often, for the pika, a small rodent found at high altitudes in both hemispheres; and for the hyrax, a small herbivorous, Island's colorful past. Andrew Berger, di Domenico partner overseeing the management of the project, states, " A noteworthy historic architectural element utilized in the design scheme is a terra-cotta parapet that was preserved from the original building, restored and is now incorporated into the new building's facade. "The parapet has been recommended for listing on the National Register of Historic Places This article is about the U.S. Register. For the National Register of Historic Places in Canada see Canadian Register of Historic Places. The National Register of Historic Places . Rising above and behind the parapet is a large, curved glass block clerestory clerestory or clearstory (both: klĭr`stōr'ē, –stôr'ē), a part of a building whose walls rise higher than the roofs of adjoining parts of the structure. that recalls the heavy steel frame of the subway terminal. It defines the Surf Avenue facade of the building and establishes a portal to the interior retail spaces and the transit connections beyond." On the interior of the building are a series of public, semi public and private spaces, including offices and support facilities for the New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. police on the top two levels. An innovative lighting plan is key to the final design of the building, resulting in a beacon-like glow to passers-by on the building's exterior and enhancing the pedestrian experience on the interior. John di Domenico, who worked closely with Mr. Berger in developing the design for the project, observes, "Designing the Portal building was a challenge for our studio, albeit a delightful one. Our goal was to balance the references to historic Coney Island with the contemporary needs of the user groups occupying the building and the pedestrians who traverse it in their journey from arrival via public transportation to destination at the playland and beach." |
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