As part of our on-call contract with the NYC Department of Design and Construction’s Design Excellence Program, Spacesmith completed the new Staten Island Family Justice Center, a program of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence. This 10,000 sf center, with wide-ranging, multilingual services offered in one location to victims of domestic violence, is the last of five to be completed in each borough. The goal was to create a welcoming, calming environment for those seeking help and a comfortable, efficient workplace for employees.
Capturing natural light in a deep space with only one elevation of windows was an essential design goal and a difficult challenge. By developing a planning concept that maximizes light penetration and takes full advantage of the generous ceiling and window heights, we were able to achieve our objective. Sight lines from the windows to the interior were carefully maintained to facilitate light flow throughout. Communal spaces and open workstations are located at the window wall with private offices lining the building perimeter.
The street entry to the Family Justice Center is simultaneously visible and discrete. A freestanding canopy of stainless steel and glass extends from the building’s façade. Visitors move through two levels of controlled security before gaining full access, the vestibule checkpoint and the secured reception lobby. Once screened, they are guided to the hospitality suite, designed to feel more like a family room than a waiting area. Warm earth tones and natural materials are used throughout this and all visitor spaces. Partially opaque windows bring in natural light without allowing passers-by to see in. A wood slat wall separates the hospitality suite from the adjacent, supervised children’s room, a place where parents can confidently leave their children at play.
At the heart of the center is a glowing light box, a multipurpose room of 15’ tall channel glass walls that provides unlimited possibilities for conducting victim and community programs. Like other privacy and security sensitive elements of the design, this room, with its opaque glass walls and wood acoustic ceilings, is safe and welcoming.
