ALPOLIC MCM Crowns a Stately Mixed-Use Development in Queens
As residential rents in Manhattan rise, New Yorkers are seeking more affordable housing in neighborhoods that offer metropolitan amenities in addition to reasonable commutes. While people continue to flock to Brooklyn, the borough of Queens is gaining traction thanks to an attractive buyer’s market. SOLA Woodside is one such development welcoming young urbanites.
The challenge: To meet the demand for housing, the principals involved in the SOLA Woodside project required an expedient construction. The solution: ALPOLIC MCM provided the team with beautiful, durable and safe materials to help meet important deadlines.
Project SOLA at 72-01 Queens Boulevard
Location Woodside, Queens, New York
Architect Aufgang Architects
Fabricator/Installer Bolton Cladding
Product ALPOLIC®/fr in TOB Black
Photo: Michael Young
Since its incorporation as a New York City borough in the late 19th century, Queens has established itself as a cultural base and attractive residential area. It is home to the New York Mets, numerous arts and science museums, and it is the site of the annual US Open Tennis Championships. Queens is currently the second-most populated NYC borough, offering housing as diverse as the people represented within the community. In recent years, companies have invested billions of dollars for mixed-use developments to accommodate people relocating here.
Woodside, while not as populated as other neighborhoods like Astoria or Flushing, has nonetheless benefitted from the recent development boom. SOLA Woodside, completed in June, 2024, meets the needs of middle-income residents with thirty percent of their units earmarked for affordable housing. The project is close to multiple subway lines and provides co-working space for remote and hybrid employees.
Photo: Michael Young
Aufgang Architects, a New York firm specializing in multi-family projects, designed SOLA Woodside. Bolton Cladding fabricated just over four thousand square feet of ALPOLIC®/fr TOB Black metal composite materials. Using a wet seal system, the company's installation team, Panel Decor, erected the MCM on the building's entrance canopies, window infills, fascia, and on the upper floor units and common space.
Hillel Stern, Operation Manager at Bolton Cladding, was pleased with the end results and a smooth project experience. "These shadow boxes help create a beautiful look. We had a good process and didn't run into complications, which is nice on a big project." He credits the success to his agile team, reliable material partners, and having the right tools for the job. ALPOLIC's quality product and excellent customer service, paired with the ease with which the Alu Ranger CNC machine helped fabricate the materials, delivered the right look right on time for the project. "When everything came together, it was amazing."
Stern also noted that black composite panels are popular in mixed-use design owing to their compatibility with other colors and building materials, like the brick featured on SOLA Woodside’s façade. ALPOLIC's TOB Black, in particular, is an in-demand finish choice for the company. "We love working with ACM cladding," says Stern. Lightweight, rigid, and flat composite panels provide a lustrous, reliable finish to accent many mixed material projects. The TOB Black contributes well to the overall aesthetic of the community and also features on another Bolton project: 1516 Fischer Avenue in Harlem.
Photo: Michael Young
Building Communities With Materials Designed To Last
As Queens continues to grow, developers will answer the call for new and renovated projects to accommodate new residents. The flexibility and durability of ALPOLIC materials work with any installation system and can help meet tight deadlines. Our colors are protected by the best warranty in the industry and are easy to clean and maintain.
Make ALPOLIC part of your plan to enhance emerging communities. Schedule an AIA presentation with one of our sales representatives.
