Shakespeare Gordon Studio (SGS) has brought a fresh sense of community to John Jay College of Criminal Justice with the design of Club Row, an interior renovation tucked into a highly trafficked area of the Manhattan campus. The project takes a second-floor corner of the SOM-designed New Building and reimagines it as a flexible, welcoming home for student organizationsa kind of open-source headquarters for extracurricular activity.
Designing with Empathy and Intent
Shakespeare Gordon Studio, a certified woman-owned practice known for thoughtful and urban-responsive design, approached Club Row with an eye toward both functionality and ambiance. Led by Amy Shakespeare and supported by a team that includes Ashima Chitre, M?Dung Nguy?n, and Sean Kennedy, SGSs interventions are subtle yet specific. Here, their goal wasnt to make a flashy student centerit was to create an adaptable, human-scaled environment that feels owned by its users. The firm, whose portfolio spans everything from clinics to university labs, rooted this project in a desire to empower students with space that feels open yet clearly delineated for purposeful use. Theres nothing sterile or overworked about the design; instead, it quietly supports activity and expression.
A Cohesive Layout for Community and Privacy
Previously a patchwork of isolated rooms, the new Club Row opens things up. A central meeting area is structured around custom-built millwork booths, laid out in two material-driven rows. On the interior, white oak brings warmth and cohesion; along the exterior curtain wall, translucent acrylic lets natural light filter through. The thoughtful use of materials keeps the design legible while visually breaking up the long rectangular footprint of the floorplate. The booths support both solo work and small group collaboration, and their configuration promotes a sense of togetherness without feeling crowded. Between the seating zones, a playful color palette introduces liveliness without overwhelming the senses.
Supporting Diverse Student Needs
The core meeting zone is balanced by a range of other spaces that serve the needs of a multifaceted student body. These include a large multipurpose room with movable partitionsdesigned to host events and be subdivided as neededalong with dedicated club offices, a fully soundproofed recording studio, and a newsroom. Rather than just being a lounge with vague programming potential, Club Row is clearly equipped for real activity. Storage lockers line one wall, each assigned to specific clubs and outfitted with custom felt covers that absorb sound and provide a decorative canvas. The inclusion of a campus store and staff offices gives the area a semi-public character that threads administration and student life together.
Subtle Design, Lasting Impact
Club Row isnt flashy, and thats part of its strength. It reflects a careful calibration of atmosphere, function, and context. Located just off the buildings 11th Avenue atrium, the space doesnt announce itself loudlyit invites. By turning an overlooked floorplate into a structured yet casual extension of campus life, SGS has created a space where students can genuinely take ownership of their activities. Its institutional design with a light touch, but meaningful results.
Technical Sheet
| Project Name | John Jay Club Row |
|---|---|
| Location | 524 West 59th Street, New York, NY 10019 |
| Client | John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY; Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) |
| Architect | Shakespeare Gordon Studio |
| Project Team | Amy Shakespeare, Ashima Chitre, M?Dung Nguy?n, Sean Kennedy |
| Consultants | DVL Consulting Engineers, LERA Consulting Structural Engineers, Adwar Video, The LiRo Group |
| Square Footage | 3,250 sf |
| Project Completion | 2024 |
| Photographer | Alexander Severin |
| Architects Website | www.sg.studio |