After years of extensively searching for a location in the predominantly Asian community of downtown Flushing, Main Street Radiology Associates—which has several diagnostic centers located throughout the borough of Queens, New York—found a site to further expand its services. The proposed site is located in a 6,000-sq.-ft. space on the second floor of a five-story building. The existing space was a former office suite, which was renovated to include multiple modalities.

The project presented many challenges from the onset, the most difficult of which was the complexity of locating an MRI/Cat scan suite on the second floor of a building that was originally designed for offices and not conducive to the structural, electrical, shielding, and acoustic requirements of such a function.

This center provides a series of treatment and diagnostic modalities that include an R/F room, nuclear medicine procedure room with adjacent injection room, and an MRI/CT suite. The center also includes a separate Women’s Imaging Center that incorporates two ultrasound treatment areas, a mammography unit, bone density scanning, separate changing rooms, a patient toilet, and a gowned waiting area. This suite allows for procedures primarily performed on women to be conducted in a pleasant, secure, and private setting.

The reception area can be reached via either of two elevators, one of which was added during this renovation. The plan carefully separates staff and public spaces while maintaining an easy flow of patients. As is customary, the site was developed with all necessary functions in compliance with both local and state regulatory agencies.

Project category: Conversion (completed October 2005)

Chief administrator: Kenneth Seedorf, Administrative Director, (718) 661-1301

Firms: The COR Group, (212) 337-9575; Zeret Architecture, (212) 243-4824

Design team: Joe Bolano, Assoc. AIA, President; Desiree Arias, Assoc. AIA, Project Executive (The COR Group); Pastor Medina, AIA, Principal (Zeret Architecture); Michael J. Connors, PE, MEP Engineering (C&F Consulting Engineering PC); Joseph V. Lieber, PE, Principal (Axis Design Group); Ted O’Rourke, Senior Vice-President (ICS Builders, Inc.)

Photography: The COR Group

Total building area (sq. ft.): 6,500

Construction cost/sq. ft.: $354

Total construction cost (excluding land): $2,300,000