At its core, a school is about creating a safe, playful, and inspiring setting for kids to learn. The starting point for this design was to create a building shaped by the nature of the site. The design is based on a concept that kids are very fond of: playing outside.

By preserving the existing mature trees and occupying the area around their drip lines, the building took a natural shape respecting the existing context. The “connecting slices” use the location of the existing mature trees to enhance light and air coming into the interior of the building, as well as create constant visual connection and interaction between classrooms.

The building footprint was reduced to its minimum to provide maximum open area for outdoor activities. Natural playgrounds were distributed throughout the site to diversify the experience of the students—under the tree drip-lines for more concentrated sensory exploration, at the rear yard for gross motor activities and on the roof for gardening.

Also on the roof, a greenhouse becomes the epitome of the idea of “growing in community,” where spaces for growing plants, learning and connecting with nature become a shared environment between the students and the community. The greenhouse will serve as a learning lab for the children and visitors, and will help young adults engage with local, sustainable food production.

The interior of the building is composed of a series of bright and interconnected spaces built in natural materials. The aim is to create architecture that a student can understand and connect to, and to draw inspiration from the simplicity and purity of the local nature. The result is an environment consisting of many different “activation elements,” where students can feel a sense of belonging and dovetailing with the school values: curiosity, authenticity, openness, stewardship, imagination, and collaboration.

We ultimately only truly embrace inclusion when we design for neurodiversity—carrying the responsibility of ensuring that everyone, regardless of neurological profile, is set up for success. Color, lighting, material choices, wayfinding, and technology, may improve focus, productivity, and comfort. We must create more inclusive environments where diverse minds and abilities harmoniously coexist.

Brooklyn, New York
20,000 SF