CENTRO - Center for Puerto Rican Studies

CENTRO, The Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College, is the largest university-based research institute, library, and archive dedicated to the Puerto Rican experience in the US. In collaboration with CUNY and Hunter College, MAD was tasked with the relocation and renovation of all newly designated CENTRO spaces within the Silberman School of Social Work facility in East Harlem. The project was divided into two distinct design and construction phases, addressing CUNY scheduling factors with significant milestones.

For Phase 1, MAD oversaw the relocation of CENTRO’s administrative functions to the Silberman building’s 5th floor, unifying staff previously split across two different buildings. The renovation introduced key amenities, including a reception area, conference rooms, a media and editing suite, wellness spaces, and collaboration areas for the expanding 70-person team.

Phase 2 of the project focused on major renovations to CENTRO’s research library and archives, expanding the cellar to create student-friendly research spaces. The redesigned library offers enhanced study areas and improved access to archival materials, with a centralized reception desk below an internal skylight confirming CENTRO as a premier research institute. Additionally, first-floor administrative spaces were reconfigured to include expanded library staff workspaces, meeting areas, a processing and display area for their bookstore, and a flexible event area. Phase 2 is currently under construction.