FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JUNE 20, 2019 • THE QUEENS COURIER 11
New Corona pre-K center fi rst in nation built into ‘passive house’
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
When city offi cials joined community
leaders late last month to cut the ribbon on
Corona’s fi rst aff ordable housing development
in more than 30 years, they also celebrated
the completion of a pre-K center that
should be a prototype for future projects.
The city’s School Construction
Authority and CTA Architects, P.C. partnered
to create UPK Q368, also known
as the Mosaic Pre-K Center, the nation’s
fi rst-ever pre-K built within a passive
house building.
“Th e 4,700-square-foot, three-classroom
facility on the ground fl oor of the
senior residence uses only one-eighth the
amount of energy a typical pre-K of a similar
size would use,” CTA Principal Craig
Tooman said. “It houses a general offi ce,
a staff room, a parents/community room,
an infi rmary, a custodial space, a lobby
and a warming pantry that is equipped
with a small kitchen area with a milk
chest, a warming cabinet and a connected
food-storage room.”
Th ere is also a 1,200-square-foot play
yard that is only accessible by going
through the pre-K. Students, up to a maximum
of 60, will populate the classrooms
beginning in September.
All of that in the ground fl oor space of
the HANAC Corona Senior Residence,
an eight-story, 67-unit development at
54-21 101st St., which is situated near
LeFrak City.
“Th is is a perfect example of when
government works,” Queens Borough
President Melinda Katz said during the
ribbon-cutting ceremony.
UPK Q368 marks CTA’s ninth universal
pre-K design for the SCA so far.
Th e development is expected to achieve
Passive House Certifi cation this summer,
which will confi rm it complies with environmentally
forward standards. Design
requirements include 75 percent energy
savings in comparison to typical properties
as well as signifi cant environmental
benefi ts for the physical health, comfort
and overall well-being of those who live,
work and learn there.
“Th ese types of ultra-energy effi cient
designs are becoming much more popular,
both citywide and worldwide,”
Tooman said. “Passive house requirements
go well beyond those of LEEDcertifi
ed buildings, the energy consumption
Photo by Pericle Gheorghias
is much, much lower.”
He added that CTA was able to determine
that this particular pre-K could
operate with much lower energy consumption
than a typical one, which
includes computer systems, demanding
light systems, high plug loads and extensive
cooking facilities. Tooman noted that
this is the reason there are so few passive
house schools, the energy load in a school
is typically much higher than the energy
load in a residence.
The site of the Mosaic Pre-K Center in Corona
Celebrate With Us!
YEARS
for US
for
$ YOU
To qualify for the $90 bonus, you must open a Flushing Bank Complete Checking account1 during our celebration
month of June, an opening balance of $1,000 is required with an average balance of $1,000 or more each month
through September 2019.
Plus, get up to $200 when you open a new Complete Checking account and complete the required activities2. For more
information, visit your local Flushing Bank branch, call 800.581.2889 (855.540.2274 TTY/TDD) or visit www.FlushingBank.com.
Small enough to know you.
Large enough to help you.®
1 Effective June 3, 2019 through June 30, 2019. New Complete Checking account with new money only. Existing checking account customers are not eligible. A new checking account is defined
as any new checking account that does not have any authorized signatures in common with any other existing Flushing Bank checking account(s). An existing checking customer is defined as
anyone who currently has or has had a Flushing Bank checking account within the last 24 months. The minimum opening balance required for Complete Checking is $25, but a minimum opening
balance of $1,000 is required in this account to qualify for the respective advertised bonus. The new account must remain open, active, and in good standing through September 30, 2019 with an
average balance of $1,000 or more each month. One $90 bonus per new Complete Checking customer which will be credited to the qualifying Complete Checking account in October 2019. A
1099 statement for the bonus value will be issued. The promotion and offer are subject to change and termination without prior notice at any time. 2 This offer is limited to one Complete Checking
account per household. Minimum deposit required to open a new Complete Checking account is $25. No minimum balance required to be eligible for the Bonus. Direct Deposit – You will receive
$100 for signing up for and receiving a recurring direct deposit of $250 or more. Tax refund checks do not qualify as direct deposit. Direct Deposits must be completed prior to 90 days after the
account is opened. Debit Card Purchases – You will receive $50 for the completion of 5 debit card purchases. Each debit card purchase must be $25 or more. Online Banking Bill-payments – You
will receive $50 for completing 5 online banking bill-payments via Flushing Bank’s Online Banking portal. Each online bill-pay must be $25 or more. Debit Card Purchases and Online Bill-payments
must be completed prior to 60 days after the account is opened. THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT ANY CUSTOMER CAN RECEIVE IS $200. The compensation will be credited to the checking account
on or about the end of the month following the completion of the above qualifying transactions within the required time after account opening. A 1099 will be issued in the amount
credited to your account. Other fees and restrictions may apply. All offers are subject to change and termination without prior notice at any time.
Flushing Bank is a registered trademark
/WWW.QNS.COM
/www.FlushingBank.com
link
/www.FlushingBank.com
link
