On Staten Island, 1100 Architect Debuts New York’s First Modular Public Restroom

A quiet residential block on Staten Island is the unlikely location of a potentially game-changing project: the first modularly constructed public bathroom in New York. The modest structure, designed by 1100 Architect, was completed last winter and has been a boon for visitors at Lopez Playground, which previously had no public facilities within walking distance.

Composed of three steel-frame modules, the restroom is enclosed with a facade of structural glazed tile, making it durable, low-maintenance, and vandal-resistant. At 34 feet long and 20 feet wide, the design aligns with dimension standards for New York City Department of Parks & Recreation (NYC Parks), and consists of separate men’s and women’s toilets flanking a mechanical room and employee storage space. Small skylights and generous windows, treated with a translucent film for privacy, bring natural light inside the three-stall restrooms. The architects also incorporated a green roof, adding a green touch to the ultra-pragmatic program.