Recently, the Bronxdale Community Center in Bronx, NY, opened to area residents - providing a place for learning and recreational activities. And the use of Indian Absolute Black granite throughout the building's interior and exterior design adds value to the overall aesthetics of the neighborhood.

The newly constructed center, which houses a regulation-sized gymnasium with locker rooms, also includes a lobby leading to administrative and educational spaces, a dining/multi-purpose room, kitchen and classroom - all on the first floor. Additionally, on the second level there is an arts and crafts room, three classrooms and an exercise room. The 23,000-square-foot building is equipped with a hydraulic elevator and chairlift, and each floor has handicapped accessible lavatories.

A total of 6,000 square feet of Indian Absolute Black granite, which was quarried in India and supplied by Hindustan Granites Inc. of Hauppauge, NY, creates a contemporary environment for the new center. All of the pieces were cut to size, with thicknesses varying between ¾, 1½ and 2 inches.

The granite pieces were employed as pavers, steps and landings as well as for several desktops. The stone was also used as wall cladding for both interior and exterior spaces.

The textured granite brings dimension and a sense of permanence to the building's design. It also gives the community center a classy look.

For the interior lobby and multi-purpose room, approximately 4,000 square feet of 24- x 24- x ¾-inch floor tiles with a flamed/brushed finish were utilized. The stair treads measure 60 x 13¾ x 1½ inches with a polished/eased edge on three sides with a plasma finish. Additionally, the stairs landing area measures 30 x 30 x 1½ inches with a plasma finish as well. A total of 400 linear feet of 8- x 24- x ¾-inch pieces of Absolute Black granite were employed as wall base, and featured a beveled edge and plasma finish.

Outdoors, 24- x 24- x 1½-inch pavers with a plasma finish were used in the design. In total, approximately 2,500 square feet was employed.

“The Bronxdale Community Center is a prestigious addition to our growing portfolio of successful cut-to-size projects in North America,” said Babu Reddy, president of Hindustan Granites. “Now we have proven our ability to deliver the entire range of customized stonework. Each assignment is unique in its own needs and challenges - keeping us on our toes to continuously innovate and provide the most rewarding experience for our valuable clients.”

According to Rafael Martinez, president of Marble1 LLC of New York, NY, the installer for the project, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) viewed several stone types before making a final decision on the Indian Absolute Black granite. “We worked very closely with Hindustan,” said Martinez. “They are one of our primary suppliers. I told them that we needed to present some samples for this project.”

In total, it took approximately two to three months for the stone to arrive on the jobsite. “Most of the stone was custom ordered,” said Martinez. “It did arrive on time, and the installation went quite well. When you custom order, sometimes that is not always the case.”

At times, there were between 20 to 30 workers on the jobsite, according to the installer. “Overall, it was a good installation,” he said. “It was very rapid. We had to make some adjustments for time. We would work on other parts of the building when waiting for the stone to arrive.” In all, the project took about a year to complete.

“Apart from our primary activity as one of the leading distributors of natural stone slabs in the United Sates, Hindustan Granites has developed a very strong foothold in the cut-to-size work realm with numerous repeat clients,” said Arvind Devaraj, marketing director of Hindustan Granites. “The Bronxdale Community Center is a strong testament to our quality cut-to-size work delivered from our modern facilities in India.”

Bronxdale Community Center: Bronx, NY

Client: New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)
Architect: NYCHA Design Department Architects
General Contractor: MKM Construction Services Inc.
Stone Supplier: Hindustan Granites Inc., Hauppauge, NY
Stone Installer: Marble1 LLC, New York, NY