Major Renovation Project for Multi-Use Community & Educational Hub Underway
QUEENS, NY – At an event on June 4, Council Member Julie Won presented a check for $1.5 million to the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law. The funds will support the launch of the Law major renovation project to transform a decommissioned kitchen into the CUNY School of Law Worker Education and Development Center, a 3,800+ square foot multi-use space for classes, events, and community engagement.
“I am thrilled to provide $1.5 million in funding for CUNY School of Law for a critical renovation project that will provide much-needed flexible space for learning, gathering, and community engagement,” said Council Member Julie Won. “This funding will support CUNY Law’s longstanding mission of making an affordable legal education accessible to New Yorkers while also connecting people with resources and events that advance social justice advocacy here in Queens and beyond.”
The renovation for the Worker Education and Development Center began with dismantling the disused commercial kitchen space, made possible by ResoA funding received from the New York City Council via Council Member Won. An additional $1 million in capital funding was also received from Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. CUNY Law donated much of the kitchen equipment to sister CUNY institutions LaGuardia Community College and Queensborough Community College.
“We are grateful for Council Member Won’s support and the ongoing support of the entire Queens Delegation of the City Council and Queens Borough Hall,” said Sudha Setty, Dean of CUNY School of Law. “This significant investment will greatly enhance our ability to serve our students and the Queens community more broadly.”
In addition to launching the renovation of the commercial kitchen space, the funds will also be used towards the implementation of network and audiovisual system updates, campus-wide projects were initiated with previous funding from the City Council and Queens Borough President.
“I’m proud to partner with Council Member Won to bring much needed renovations to the CUNY School of Law, on behalf of the students and staff of this great institution,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “The students and staff of CUNY School of Law deserve nothing but the highest quality spaces to learn and work, and these renovations will help them gain just that.”
CUNY Law has a long history of serving the Queens community. In the past year alone, the Law School has hosted dozens of events and programs, including BETA NYC, CUNY Citizenship Now!, a city-wide WMBE seminar, and numerous city Department of Health meetings and trainings.