Every day, thousands of young people gather after school at Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the city to play, create, and grow. At the Thomas S. Murphy Clubhouse in Flatbush, Brooklyn, they also swim. The pool is underwent its first-ever renovation which included reshaping the pool, updating the lighting, changing the gutter and return systems, and providing dehumidification systems. The renovation elevates this basement-level pool to be one of the prime features of the club. Photos taken from an underwater photo shoot captured the kids in motion, and their images were used to create the tile mosaic. Not only will this help nurture a sense of community ownership, but the mosaic image of swimmers will echo the movement of the pool.

Client: Madison Square Boys & Girls Club, LOM Properties.
Agency: NYC EDC.
Program: pool renovation, 100-foot-long mosaic art installation.
Size: 4,600 SF.
Team: Structural Engineering: Alnour Consulting Engineering. Mechanical: Rosenthal Engineering. General Contractor: Erin Construction and Development.
Photography: David Sundberg /ESTO.
Awards: AIA NYS Design Award of Merit, 2021. SARA National Design Award of Merit, 2020.