Frank Sinatra School of the Arts

With the help of generous donations from our supporters, Exploring the Arts is helping to fund the design and construction of a new school building located in Astoria, Queens across from the Kaufman Astoria Studios for the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts. Preparation of the construction site has already begun and the building is scheduled to open for use in early 2009.

The new building will serve both the school's needs as well as those of the surrounding community. It will come equipped with a state of the art performance hall, theatres, art studios, and practice rooms that will be available for use to the residents of Astoria, Queens. In addition, it will provide a new space for the many prominent artists and performers that come through New York City. The construction and staffing of the new building will provide much-needed jobs for Astoria, and the new building's usage will further establish Queens as an important tourist destination in the city.

The guiding philosophy behind the creation of this building is to provide a home for the school that will better serve its students' and teachers' needs, showcase the arts, and embrace the surrounding community. The physical design thus aims to create a bridge between the outside world and the vibrant life that exists within. The exterior is therefore not one of brick but of glass, with large windows that visually invite those on the outside in.

The architectural firm behind these designs is The Polshek Partnership (www.polshek.com).

To visit the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts website click here.

Click on the image boxes to your right to view the building's designs.