◊ CEN CINAI (pg

THE DESIGN BUILD PROJECT, located in Cen Cinai, was an opportunity to build play structures for kids

utilizing natural material and resources found within the region. It was a fun way to test sustainability

practices while providing solutions to efficiently create a use of the open space located east of the daycare. While there were different groups that had specific tasks, everyone worked together to complete the new and improved playscape. Some projects incorporated the abundant amount of trees on site, others were gathering spaces, and

the terrace and rock climbing wall were the built solutions answering the dangerous steep slope issue.

THE FORGOTTEN focuses on people who are often ignored but are essential for the smooth functioning of the city – sanitation

workers, bus and train drivers, delivery people, teachers, firefighters, police o fficers, and nannies. Gentrification and high rents in the central boroughs of NYC have transformed essential workers into real estate refugees seeking affordable housing in the outer boroughs.

This proposal creates a neighborhood in Queens that mixes subsidized residential units for essential workers with

market rate rental units. All units are equal in space, material, and amenities to ensure that this neighborhood is tenure blind.

Income to support the subsidized units is provided by paid parking and amenities that benefit residents and the wider public that include a daycare facility, shops, laundry, ice skating rink/arcade, and a supermarket.

The neighborhood is reinforced by three “streets” shared only by the residents above the public commercial level. Above that level, there

is a raised garden terrace flanked by residential stoops and private gardens. Meanwhile, the upper levels include their own “street” that help the residents maneuver throughout the cloud units, allowing access to shared/private terraces. The goal was to carry-out the

sense of community as one goes further up into the building.

Here, subsidized housing is no longer substandard, but instead offers essential workers the same quality of life as others.