"Almost immediately after the Parks Department's new Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center opened in the Little Haiti section of East Flatbush in early February, the building hummed with teens vigorously hanging out. They slumped, joked, strolled, shot hoops, rested between sets, and generally gave the impression there was nowhere they'd rather be. That's one immediate measure of good architecture: the pleasure quotient."
"Is architecture responsible for that overflow of wellness? In theory, it's the equipment that counts. Whether you're riding an exercise bike in a basement or a penthouse, the payoff for your body is the same. But Shirley - which is what the architects call both their building and the pioneering Black congresswoman it honors - is a public space that could compete with a Manhattan condo both in its amenities (podcast booth, dance studio, learning kitchen) and its deluxe design."
The Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in East Flatbush quickly became a lively community hub, with teens using its spaces for socializing, exercise, and leisure. The design emphasizes pleasurable, functional experiences that encourage sustained physical activity and relaxation. Amenities include a podcast booth, dance studio, learning kitchen, and a high-quality pool, while membership pricing remains low or free for youth and affordable for adults and seniors. The city's Design and Construction program aims to produce civic architecture beyond mere utility, and Studio Gang has taken on such municipal projects despite the challenges of working for the city and limited financial incentives.
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