On a recent spring afternoon in Central Brooklyn, crowds gathered outside the newly opened Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center—families, seniors, kids just out of school—waiting to sign up, step inside, and see what all the buzz was about.

Inside, many had the same reaction:

This is not what I expected.

In East Flatbush, a neighborhood that has long lacked this scale of recreational infrastructure, the arrival of a 74,000-square-foot, $141 million public facility is significant on its own. But what stands out immediately is not just the size—it’s the space itself.

From the moment you walk through the doors—into a vivid, light-filled lobby and out toward a soaring pool room wrapped in wood and glass—it’s clear this is something different: a place that feels intentional, detailed, and genuinely welcoming.

That impression isn’t accidental. It’s the result of years of planning and design—and the hands-on work of union carpenters and contractors tasked with turning a complex vision into a durable, high-performing public space that connects to the neighborhood.

A Building Designed to Welcome—and Surprise

Designed by Studio Gang, the building was conceived as an inviting, community-centered space, one that draws people in. 

Large arched windows curve along the façade and wrap into the building’s corners, pulling natural light deep into the interior and creating a visual connection between the street and what’s happening inside.

That openness carries through to the building’s centerpiece: a six-lane swimming pool surrounded by expansive glazing and framed by long-span timber beams in a stunning, light-filled room. Throughout the building, rounded openings, curved walls, and unexpected sightlines reinforce that experience—spaces that move people through light and activity and connect to the neighborhood.

Even for the people building it, the effect wasn’t always obvious at first.

“It was a very detailed project,” said Hanson James, owner of Creative Construction. “From the outside, you wouldn’t think there’s so much going on inside. But when you go floor by floor, you realize how much detail there is.”

Building Details You Can Feel

Creative Construction handled much of the interior work—framing, drywall, ceilings, doors, and millwork—shaping the spaces people now move through every day.

“There’s no repetition,” James said. “Every single space is different.”

That meant constant adjustments, including real-time problem-solving as the design evolved.

As the architect refined the vision, James’s team helped translate it into reality—offering input on constructability and developing custom solutions on-site.

“It’s a beautiful space,” said Joseph Reilly, president of New York City District Council of Carpenters Local 45 and the business agent for this project. “A lot of thought went into it. It wasn’t just some cookie-cutter building. It really sparkles.”

Some of the most technically demanding work is almost invisible—like the curved “radius” walls that frame the track above the basketball court.

“They’re not easy to do,” James said. “You have to bend the material, follow an exact line, and get it right.”

Built to Last

If the design pushes expectations, the function is straightforward: this building is meant to be used—constantly, and by everyone.

Membership is intentionally accessible, with low-cost options and free access for many young New Yorkers, reinforcing the building’s role as a true public resource rather than a limited amenity.

That reality shapes every construction decision.

“It’s a rec center,” James said. “You’re going to have kids, a lot of activity.”

To handle that, the team used high-impact materials in wall systems, finishes, and assemblies designed to withstand heavy daily use.

Executing a building this complex—where geometry shifts from room to room and design details carry through every surface—requires a highly trained workforce.

For James, that’s where union labor makes the difference.

“The quality is top-notch,” he said. “These guys know what they’re doing. You need that level of skill for a job like this.”

That expertise becomes critical on a project where precision matters—and where there’s little room for error.

“The quality, the safety—we get it done on time, we do it right,” said Reilly, who also noted the benefit the project brought in terms of jobs for local residents. “A lot of the people working on this job were from the neighborhood. The people building it are the same people whose kids are going to use it.”

A Public Investment 

The new recreation center is Brooklyn’s largest of its kind—and a major investment in East Flatbush.

For local leaders, the goal was not just to build something functional, but to create a space that reflects the needs and value of the community it serves.

“This center represents bringing more equity to our community,” said Assemblymember Monique Chandler-Waterman. “For years, people here said the same thing: we need a safe place for our kids, a place to go, a place to grow. This is one of the answers.”

Spaces like the teaching kitchen, gym, pool, and classrooms are designed to serve a wide range of New Yorkers, bringing together a cross-section of the neighborhood under one roof.

Projects like this are often framed in terms of cost or scale. But what sets the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center apart is the quality of the experience it offers—and the level of care behind it.

It shows what’s possible when public investment is paired with thoughtful design and skilled union labor—and when a building is constructed not just to open, but to last.

None of those imperatives got in the way of this vital new facility being built quickly. In fact, Paul Ochoa, the city's newly appointed Commissioner of the Department of Design and Construction, pointed to the Center as a prime example of how the agency’s new “design-build” approach—designing and construction in one contract under a project labor agreement to save time and money—allowed the entire project to be built in a relatively short three years. 

Buildings like this are the result of deliberate choices: to invest in public space, prioritize quality, and rely on a skilled workforce capable of delivering it. 

It’s also a fitting homage to Chisholm, a groundbreaking politician who represented this part of Brooklyn in Congress and was the first Black woman to run for President. 

“If you’re going to put Shirley Chisholm’s name on something,”Reilly said, “it should be as outspoken as she was.”