Planetarium Revealed for Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens

Queens will get its first-ever planetarium, announced New York State Senator Michael Gianaris, as part of the new home for Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens (VBGCQ) in Astoria.

Designed by NK Architects, the new VBGCQ will include the 65-seat planetarium as well as a 1,000-seat basketball arena, a regulation-size swimming pool, a 175-seat community theater, outdoor space and facilities dedicated to STEM, the arts and other community programs. It will span five stories and approximately 116,000 square feet, part of a 229-unit affordable housing development designed by Urban Architectural Initiatives.

“If we want our kids to reach for the stars, they must see them first. This project will make science more accessible to the children of our neighborhoods and open their minds to exciting new possibilities for their futures,” said Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris.

The announcement was widely covered by the New York Post, Gothamist, Time Out and many others. Read more about VBGCQ’s mission and redevelopment project on nysenate.gov.