Work begins on performance venue.

Construction work has begun on the new Jamaica Performing Arts Center, a 400-seat performance venue in Queens designed by New York City architectural firm Wank Adams Slavin Associates LLP 

The new center will be located in the 146-year-old First Reformed Church of Jamaica at 153-10 Jamaica Avenue. WASA also has included an outdoor performance space on the grounds of the church facing Jamaica Avenue, which is designated as a city, state and national landmark.

The City of New York's Department of Design and Construction and Department of Cultural Affairs commissioned the project on behalf of three local cultural groups--Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, Cultural Collaborative Jamaica and the Black Spectrum Theater that will revitalize the unused church as a performing arts and community center.

"By reviving this structure as a performance arts center, the city is once again demonstrating its commitment to preserving our urban cultural heritage," said Len Franco, a partner at WASA. "Our design will create a community-friendly center that will be a rich and lively cultural resource for adults, youth and families throughout Queens and all of New York City."

The First Reformed Dutch Church was built in 1858. The adaptive reuse will transform the church into a flexible theater space, with about 325 seats on the main level of the theater and 75 seats in the balcony. The renovation includes all support spaces that will transform the historic building into a complete performing arts center. The main level is designed as a totally flexible theater able to house a variety of seating and stage configurations, as well as being able to accommodate banquet facilities. The third floor will feature a state-of-the-art conference center for community use, featuring a direct line of sight to the stage.

Peter George Associates, a nationally-known theater consultant, contributed expertise in the center's lighting, acoustics and audio-visual systems.

WASA's design will restore the building facade and windows, including three stained-glass windows facing Jamaica Avenue, while salvaging other deteriorated stained glass panels so that all windows in the main lobby will be historic stained glass. The church's other windows will be returned to their original design--a diamond pattern outlined by slender lead cames.

The existing Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning (JCAL), a Neo-Renaissance NYC landmark built in 1898 and located down the street, also is being renovated using a master plan devised by WASA.

The plan for JCAL includes the restoration of the building's facade as well as a restructuring of interior spaces and renovation of the interior infrastructure, which will include the creation of an art gallery, music studios, practice rooms, an art resource center, media center, photo labs and seminar rooms.