NYC DDC Breaks Ground on New Kissena Park Restroom Facility

On October 28th, Barbara A. Armand, President and CEO of Armand Corporation, joined a host of local and government officials for a groundbreaking ceremony at Kissena Park in Queens. The event marked a significant milestone in the NYC Department of Design and Construction’s (NYC DDC) Design-Build Restroom Program, which aims to improve public facilities across the city.

Kissena Park, a 235-acre greenspace in Queens, will host one of five new public restroom facilities as part of the program. The new building, located adjacent to softball field #5, Four Winds Playground, and the Kissena Velodrome, will serve the thousands of residents and visitors who frequent the park. The facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, alongside other sites such as Murphy Brothers Playground, East River Park, Van Cortlandt Park, and Brookville Park.

Armand Corporation, a minority- and woman-owned firm, is leading the construction of the Kissena Park restroom. The company has been awarded the design-build contract, marking its fourth project under the NYC DDC’s initiative. Armand Corporation, founded in 1991, is celebrating 35 years of service in delivering complex projects that strengthen communities across the Northeast and throughout the United States. The company’s multidisciplinary team includes construction managers, inspectors, engineers, schedulers, and project controls professionals, managing projects ranging from $500,000 to more than $1.2 billion.

The new facility at Kissena Park will incorporate energy-efficient systems, such as a solar array placed on the roof, and will feature a new ADA-accessible pathway lit by decorative light poles from Booth Memorial Avenue. These highly durable, low-maintenance materials are intended to keep the building and site improvements resilient while offering visitors a cleaner, safer, and more comfortable park experience.

NYC DDC Commissioner Paul A. Ochoa expressed his pride in the progress made in constructing the five new public restroom facilities across the city.

INFOTRAN Engineers & Architects, P.C., serves as Armand Corporation’s design partner on the project. Together with NYC DDC, NYC Parks, and local stakeholders, the team has engaged the community throughout planning and design to ensure the Kissena Park facility reflects the priorities of the neighborhoods surrounding it. The design-build approach allows design and construction to progress in parallel, shortening the overall schedule.

Armand Corporation is an independently owned, woman-owned, and minority-owned business led by founder Barbara A. Armand, President and CEO. The company is committed to delivering complex projects that strengthen communities across the Northeast and throughout the United States. With the Kissena Park project, Armand Corporation is demonstrating its long-standing commitment to community-focused infrastructure and the expansion of opportunities for minority- and women-owned business enterprises.