[3] With a $1.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation, the center recruited specialists from the Exploratorium in San Francisco to design hands-on "discovery stations".

[3] The stations, geared toward children ages 3–12, introduce them to diverse topics such as weather, music, and nanotechnology.

The exterior is a conspicuous glass façade scaled to match the existing mix of low-rises in the neighborhood.

[6] The addition of the Children's Library Discovery Center is significant to the community of Jamaica, Queens, as it serves a diverse and marginalized population of New York City.

[5] The program, led by Department of Design and Construction Commissioner David J. Burney, guarantees market-rate fees to architects with the intent to encourage fresh young talent in the city.