World’s Fair Marina – Candela Pavilions Reconstruction
NYC Parks is working to reconstruct the World’s Fair Marina Pavilion Structures, restoring one of Queens’ most distinctive waterfront landmarks along the Malcolm X Promenade. Originally constructed for the 1964 New York World’s Fair, the fiberglass Candela Structures – inspired by designer Félix Candela – have long served as sculptural beacons along the Flushing Bay waterfront, just north of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.
Serving as prime consultant, McLaren Engineering Group led a multidisciplinary team to reconstruct the historic pavilions, restore the site’s connection to the water, and enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety at Marina Road and Boat Basin Place.
Multidisciplinary Collaboration
McLaren’s civil, structural, and geotechnical engineers worked in close coordination with MKW + Associates (landscape architect), as well as environmental engineers, survey specialists, traffic engineers, and historians. Together with NYC Parks, the team reimagined the site as a contemporary public space that celebrates the historic integrity of the 1964 World’s Fair while addressing modern safety, access, and sustainability needs.
In 2025, the project received the NYC Public Design Commission Award for Excellence in Design. The award recognized projects that exemplify the exceptional outcomes made possible when talented design professionals and dedicated public servants collaborate to shape the city’s built environment.
