| QUEENS, NY - The Queens Family Court and City Agency
Building - a new state-of-the-art justice complex - celebrates its grand opening
with Chief Judge Judith Kaye and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg
today, Tuesday, February 4, 2:00 p.m., at 151-20 Jamaica Avenue in Jamaica,
Queens. The 280,000-square-foot facility, which is the first new Family
Court in Queens in 30 years, features 23 modern courtrooms, spacious waiting
rooms, a children's center, and offices for numerous city agencies, including
the Law Department, Department of Probation, Queens District Attorney's
Office and Administration for Children's Services, as well as the State
Office of Mental Health, Office of Children and Family Services, Legal
Aid Society and Safe Horizon.
Chief Judge Kaye stated, "A courthouse should inspire in citizens respect
and confidence in our system of law through the dignity of its surroundings.
Unfortunately, for too long families with cases in Queens Family Court
have been subjected to anything but dignified surroundings - they have had
to contend with the overcrowded and dilapidated conditions of a building
that was never meant to be used as a courthouse, but was originally built
as a public library. Today, with the opening of this shining new
state-of-the-art justice complex, residents and the legal community of
Queens will have at last an appropriate setting within which to conduct
the important business of court."
"I am happy to announce the opening of the first new family courthouse
in Queens in 30 years," Mayor Bloomberg said. "This new facility embodies
our resolve to strengthen the Family Court which serves some of the City's
most vulnerable citizens. With our decision to increase the number of judges
on the Family Court bench and the opening of this state-of-the-art facility,
we continue to improve the administration of justice and provide the best
services to the people of Queens and the City of New York."
The four-story brick building, which faces the historic Rufus King Park
to the north and the elevated Long Island Railroad tracks to the south,
is articulated into two wings - Family Court and supporting agencies - connected
by a common lobby on the ground floor and a bridge on the second level.
A commissioned sculpture by artist Ursula von Rydingsvard has been installed
in the central atrium, and granite plaques inscribed with quotes from Thurgood
Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice, are placed
at various locations on the facade of the building.
The City of New York financed the construction of the new court complex
through State Dormitory Authority bonds, with costs totaling $104 million.
The building design, created by lead designer Ian Bader of Pei Cobb Freed
& Partners, was awarded the Art Commission of the City of New York's
1999 Award for Excellence in Design. The architectural team for the project
consisted of New York based firms Pei Cobb Freed & Partners and Gruzen
Samton LLP, Associated Architects.
The Queens Family Court was formerly located at 89-14 Parsons Boulevard
in Jamaica - originally the site of a public library, which was converted
in 1970 for temporary use as a courthouse. After the court vacates the
premises, the building will be returned for use by the Queens Public Library
System.
The City is currently constructing a Criminal and Family Courthouse
in Brooklyn and a Criminal Courthouse in the Bronx.
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