Inside The Queens Innovation Center: A Transformative Educational Hub

Waldner’s is proud to celebrate the completion of one of New York City’s most ambitious and forward-thinking educational projects: The Queens Innovation Center, a new 304,617 square foot campus now open in Woodside, Queens. Developed for the NYC School Construction Authority (SCA) with Turner Construction, this groundbreaking space reimagines what modern learning environments can be, supporting students with world class design, flexible furniture solutions, and future ready programming.

A New Standard for Learning in NYC

The Queens Innovation Center embodies a major investment in the next generation of learners. The six-story building is designed to accommodate 3,066 students and houses an extraordinary variety of specialized learning environments tailored to today’s educational needs.

To bring the SCA’s vision to life, Waldner’s delivered comprehensive furniture solutions across the entire campus. Every piece was chosen to complement the architectural vision of the SCA Architectural Department, while meeting the functional demands of a multi school learning environment. From high performance classroom seating to collaborative lounge furniture, each selection supports creativity, connection, and student wellbeing.

The furniture selections prioritized adaptability, ergonomics, and aesthetics, ensuring each space aligns with the needs of modern educators and students. It was crafted with student experience in mind, balancing durability, inclusivity, and comfort to support a wide range of teaching and learning styles.

Four Schools, One Collaborative Campus

The Queens Innovation Center brings together four innovative schools under one roof, and six floors:

• Gotham Tech High School

• Motion Picture Technical High School

• Northwell School of Health Science

• P993Q

Each school benefits from shared resources and multifunctional spaces that promote interdisciplinary learning and community building.

Across its six levels, the Innovation Center includes:

• 94 general classrooms

• 6 resource rooms

• Specialized art and music rooms

• Multiple science labs

• A full library

• A 550-seat auditorium

• Medical suite and counseling offices

• Outdoor play areas and flexible gathering spaces

A Powerful Collaboration

This successful project is the result of strong teamwork between:

• Client: NYC School Construction Authority

• A&D Firm: SCA Architectural Department

• General Contractor: Turner Construction

• Project Management Firm: NYC SCA Construction Management

• Furniture Dealer: Waldner’s Business Environments

Together, these partners transformed this vibrant educational landmark that will serve thousands of students for years to come.

Project Reflections From The Waldner’s Team

This unique project was an ambitious undertake from the start. While a typical “large” school would consist of 600-700 seats, this campus was targeting 3,066 seats, but to be shared among four completely different and specialized schools. Among these schools, we had one dedicated to “Motion Picture”, and one dedicated to “Health Science”, presenting an exciting challenge to intertwine their unique visions, while at the same time making the Campus look cohesive.

Marisol Rivera

Marisol Rivera
Account Manager | Waldner's

Marisol serves as the primary point of contact for day-to-day sales coordination and project-related needs. For The Queens Innovation Center, she collaborated closely with NYSCA, architects, and various stakeholders to address project requirements with thoughtful, creative, and cost-effective furniture solutions. Her ability to align product strategy with design intent ensured seamless coordination from conception through execution.

Working in close partnership with design teams and project managers, Marisol supports specification development, coded plans, and overall project delivery. She actively participates in client meetings, installations, and walkthroughs to ensure each phase is completed on time, within budget, and to the highest standard. With over 25 years of experience in the contract furniture industry and a background in architecture, Marisol brings a deep understanding of both design and execution, contributing to projects that are efficient, well-coordinated, and successfully realized.