Our relationship with Central Queens Academy began eleven years before starting design on the Elmhurst campus. Going back to 2011, we partnered with CQA to help them find a permanent home and expand their capabilities, guiding their facility strategy and providing expertise on site evaluation and renovation, program design, and construction management services.

After an extensive review of the school’s mission and spatial needs, a program was formulated. The team then assessed its compatibility with numerous potential sites through test-fits. An analysis of the efficiency of these test-fits, both spatially and financially, ensued—considering not only cost per square foot but also the adequacy of light and air for classrooms, internal circulation and distribution, transit connectivity, and overall urban access.