Row New York announced that Foster + Partners will design a new boathouse and flagship location for the nonprofit organization, which offers a competitive rowing and academic success program to students from underserved communities throughout New York City. 

A new boathouse will be situated along Harlem River and will broaden access to waterfront and enable nonprofit to dramatically expand its athletic and academic programming for underserved youth.

With Norman Foster's statement in a press release, Row New York announced the details of a new boathouse that will be developed by Foster + Partners and Bade Stageberg Cox, an award-winning architecture office based in New York City led by principals Tim Bade, Jane Stageberg and Martin Cox. 

The new 14,000-square-foot (1,300-square-metre) facility will be the first boathouse in the country designed to serve teens and adults in under-resourced communities.

"I was immediately intrigued by the opportunity to design a boathouse for Row New York, an organization that seeks to transform the lives of individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and capabilities," said Lord Norman Foster, Founder and Executive Chairman of Foster + Partners, a global studio for integrated design, rooted in sustainability. 

"I am compelled by the challenges and opportunities that this boathouse — particularly one with such intensive and diverse uses — presents, both for the city and its citizens."

Image courtesy of Row New York's Twitter

It will be located on the Harlem River in northern Manhattan, and the new boathouse will allow Row New York to dramatically expand its youth program for middle and high school students from New York’s most underserved schools and will feature a learning center with two state-of-the-art classrooms to accommodate the organization’s academic programs. 

The new boathouse will also provide community access to the waterfront, with five boat bays that can accommodate up to 60 boats, community programming, and kayaks for public use. Designs for the boathouse, which are going through an approval process with NYC Parks and the Public Design Commission, are expected to be unveiled in fall 2018.

Image courtesy of Row New York's Twitter

Row New York, established in 2002, Row New York provides individuals of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds the opportunity to learn to row in a team setting, providing lifelong benefits both on and off the water. The nonprofit focuses on reaching underserved youth in particular through an intensive program that pairs rowing with rigorous academic tutoring and college readiness. 

Over the past five years, 100% of the high school seniors who participated in Row New York’s youth program have graduated on time, and 96% have matriculated to college. With over 200 students on its waitlist each year, the new boathouse and learning center will enable the organization to more than double the number of students served, as well as to expand its scholastic, adult, and adaptive rowing programs.

Image courtesy of Row New York

Row New York was founded in Queens with the belief that the skills learned in rowing are essential to the development of successful, well-rounded individuals. From the outset, the youth program paired rowing with academics and other support services, aiming to help transform the lives of students from underserved communities. From its first boat of eight high-school girls, Row New York has grown over the past 15 years to serve thousands of middle and high school students, giving them the resources, support, and discipline needed to finish high school and successfully matriculate and graduate from college.

Row New York currently operates out of three boathouse located throughout New York City in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. The new boathouse reflects the next chapter for the organization, enabling it to expand both its programming and reach.

Top image courtesy of Row New York's Twitter. 

> via Row New York