April 2, 2008
The Park Slope Armory
By Audrey Jaynes
The primary goal was to maintain the integrity of the landmark building; the deteriorating steel trusses were scraped and repainted terracotta red, matching the color of the old brick, stair banisters, and new Olympic-quality, 200-meter track. The original iron railings remain on the balcony and, although unusual in a modern athletic center, make the building's history seem present. "The idea was to rehabilitate the original structure. The balconies are almost identical, the stairs are still there, and the floor has been maintained and adapted for a different use," said Michael Vujosevic, the principal in charge of the project. The soaring, barrel-vaulted ceiling is 80 feet at its peak, and the original transom and large windows flood the space with natural light. Managed by the Department of Design and Construction, and designed by OMNI Architects for the Department of Homeless Services, the 65,000-square-foot space will be used for running track instead of running drills, thanks to adaptive reuse.
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