Queens Botanical Garden continues to make progress on construction of its brand-new education pavilion, which initially broke ground in June 2025 . Project officials hosted a hard hat tour of the construction site Monday morning to provide updates to garden staff and elected officials.

The 14,500-square-foot Joan N. and Norman Bluestone Education Center, an over $30 million project primarily funded by the City of New York, is slated to be completed by fall 2027.

BKSK Architects, which designed the building with environmental sustainability in mind, provided a brief presentation before the tour to help guests visualize the finished building and understand its layout.

The pavilion will be built using sustainable materials and feature a living green roof with solar panels to maximize energy efficiency. It will aim to be LEED Platinum-certified, reflecting QBG’s ongoing commitment to environmental conservation.

“This is a long time coming,” said QBG Board Chair Raymond D. Jasen. “But it’s a great example of when something is important enough to the community, we have the people, individuals, foundations and government monies that are put toward helping it.”

One side of the pavilion will feature four classrooms to host educational programs for schools and students, which include planting activities and arts and crafts projects. It will also feature a flexible lawn near the main entrance and a Kid’s Culture and Discovery Garden.

The other side of the pavilion will feature work spaces, offices and meeting rooms for garden employees and visitors, as well as a full-size teaching kitchen for adult education.

There will also be a solarium that will showcase garden views.

The pavilion will feature site-specific public art, which will be designed by working artist William Lamson. The piece will include two sets of cut stone works made from the garden's bedrock and another type of stone that will be transported to the grounds.

“Together, in pairing, they form a lovely work of art, which is a comment on this vibrant immigrant neighborhood and the way it’s been made by people coming from elsewhere,” said Kelsey Willis, a senior project manager at BKSK.

Willis said some of the artistry will even help guests visualize the ways in which the garden handles stormwater. She said guests will be able to make a water offering, pouring a cup of water down carved rivulets to watch how it drains.

In general, water drainage is an issue that plagues Queens — especially the Flushing area — due to its high water table and lack of sustainable infrastructure.

As a result, the pavilion will include a bioswale system featuring water-safe plants that will drain stormwater into detention tanks under the site.

“It will completely reduce the burden on the city storm system for this project, which is really exciting,” Willis continued. “And with all these walkways and seating, there’s a lot of opportunities for kids to watch that happen.”

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr., who invested $4 million into the pavilion, highlighted the importance of addressing issues such as climate change, sustainability and resiliency. He pointed to major flooding that occurred in Queens after remnants of Hurricane Ida brought heavy rain to downstate New York in 2021.