Representatives from the architecture firm designing the new Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens clubhouse will run the New York City Marathon this year in support of the youth club.
The Variety headquarters, located at 21-12 30th Road, is undergoing a major $305 million project that will transform it into a state-of-the-art, 125,000 square-foot facility.
DLR Group, the architecture firm overseeing the project, said representatives were running the marathon as a “gesture of solidarity” toward the community it is working with.
Maria Wilpon, principal of DLR Group who will be among the DLR representatives running in the marathon, said the 26-mile race teaches resilience, courage and gratitude.
“Running the New York City Marathon three times taught me that the human spirit is stronger than we ever imagine,” Wilpon said in a statement. “Every mile inspires resilience, courage, and gratitude. The marathon changes your life forever. Ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things with perseverance, passion, and heart.”
Variety CEO Costa Constantinides paid tribute to DLR representatives for committing to running the marathon and said Variety members would be turning out to support them.
“This physical and personal sacrifice is appreciated by the over 5,000 youth we serve annually. Know that every step you take on the 26.2-mile run, we will be cheering for you and rooting you on. Each one of them is a winner for our kids,” Constantinides said in a statement.
The new Variety clubhouse, slated to open in 2029, will feature a planetarium, aquatics center, hockey rink, theater and dance studio, among other amenities, with DLR overseeing the design of the new center.
Once complete, the new clubhouse will allow the organization to serve up to 16,000 children annually, according to Constantinides. The redevelopment will also make Variety the largest Boys and Girls Club in the U.S., as well as allowing the organization to effectively quadruple the reach of its after-school, athletic and swimming programs in Queens.
The project also includes a 236-unit, carbon-neutral affordable housing development, with 69 units reserved for youth aging out of foster care, as well as a dedicated children’s mental health center.