Queens College Student Union Building Addition
Queens College Student Union & Co-Curricular Complex
Queens College, one of the most diverse campuses in the nation, sought to reimagine its Student Union as a central and welcoming hub for student life. The original 1971 neo-Brutalist building, though substantial in size, was isolated from the campus and lacked a sense of connection and vitality.
The project introduces a new three-story, 42,000-square-foot co-curricular building alongside a comprehensive landscape redesign. Together, they reconnect the Student Union to the campus through a sequence of three slate-paved courts—an entry court, a central gathering space, and a garden court designed for quiet reflection. These spaces establish a network of paths, terraces, and seating areas that support both social and cultural activity.
The new building expands dining and student facilities, adds seminar and conference rooms, and includes a 444-seat theater. Clad in limestone and copper, its L-shaped form softens the geometry of the existing structure while introducing natural light and warmth to the interior spaces.
This transformation redefines the Student Union as a vibrant co-curricular center—integrating architecture and landscape to support community, diversity, and campus life.
