Tent of Tomorrow

LOCATION:                     Queens // New York
AREA:                             80,000 sqf
CLIENT:                          National Trust for Historic Preservation
DATE:                             July2016
CONTRIBUTION:            Original Design // Illustration

In the spirit to raise awareness of the deteriorating structure, National Trust for Historic Preservation launched a design competition to radically re-imagine one of New York City’s most iconic buildings and a defining landmarks of Queens. Tent of Tomorrow was once the go-to place during the Expo 64, hosting events and performance on top of the largest Terrazo Map of New York State. After its glorious days, the pavilion was left untreated and slowly transformed into a relic of the past, waiting to be recovered.

This proposal offers a simple but solution to carry forward Philip Johnson’s vision of a “free space”. In order to preserve the Great Map and to maximize usage of the New York State Pavilion, a heavy-duty glass floor is floated above ground by a foot through the use of lightweight structure and suspended cable. The glass panels are movable to allow the preservation process to continue without sacrificing function. The glass floor mimics the former Kalwall roof both in colors and arrangement; mirroring an invisible past, while reflecting the original concept and ambition of the New York State Pavilion into the future.