The new East Flatbush Library. Image Credit: Gregg Richards/DDC).

On June 6, Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) and the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) celebrated the re-opening of East Flatbush Library in Brooklyn. The library, which had recently undergone a comprehensive renovation, is located at 9612 Church Avenue and considered a staple of the Remsen Village neighborhood. (more…)

One of the new spaces inside the Bronx Children’s Museum. Image Credit: DDC.

The Bronx was previously the only borough not to have a permanent children’s museum. On November 16, 2022, the Departments of Design and Construction, Parks and Recreation, and Cultural Affairs, elected officials and community members celebrated the opening of the permanent space for the Bronx Children’s Museum. The museum is now located at the Bronx Terminal Market at 725 Exterior Street in Mill Pond Park.  (more…)

Image credit: New York City Council.

Advocates highlighted the public health and equity issues New Yorkers face when struggling to find a public restroom. On Wednesday, June 28th, the City Council’s Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a hearing on a bill which would be the first step in expanding the number of available public bathrooms in New York City. The bill, Int. 258-2022, would require the Departments of Transportation and Parks to collaborate on a report identifying at least one location for a new public bathroom in each zip code. The report would be completed by June 1, 2023. The bill was introduced in April by its lead sponsor, Council Member Rita Joseph. (more…)

Brooklyn’s Rescue Co. #2, seen above, is a firehouse that opened in 2019 as part of a past Project Excellence contract. Image Credit: NYC DDC.

Projects will be awarded to the selected firms on a rotating basis. On March 16, 2022, the Department of Design and Construction (DDC) announced the selection of twenty firms the agency has contracted with for architectural design services for future public building projects. The firms were selected as part of the Project Excellence Program. The Project Excellence Program pre-qualifies firms to provide design services for public building projects to ensure high quality while saving time on the procurement process. The previous round of the program expired in 2021. (more…)

Mayor Adams announces his administration’s climate resiliency team. Image Credit: Ed Reed/ Mayoral Photography Office.

The combination of agencies aims to reduce redundancy and enhance integrated work. On January 31, 2022, Mayor Eric Adams announced his administration’s climate leadership team and changes to the City’s executive agencies that handle environmental justice. Three appointments were announced: Rohit T. Aggarwala as the chief climate officer and Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP); Vincent Sapienza as the chief operations officer of DEP; and Kitty Charles-Guzman as the executive director of the new Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice (MOCEJ).  (more…)