By Tom Rogers and Jabin Pu

Nestled in a 1.7-acre mid-block site between Joralemon and Livingston streets in Brooklyn Heights鈥� Historic District, The Packer Collegiate Institute is an independent K-12 private school in Brooklyn, N.Y., that has served students since 1845. 听

Packer鈥檚听diverse community of learners benefits听from transformative learning experiences that foster intellectual development and social-emotional growth.听To be able to best provide an enhanced learning environment, operational efficiency, and听enriched programming for staff and a growing student body,听Packer embarked on a 25,000-square-foot, four-story听expansion听that would add听classrooms and breakout spaces for grades听1-4, as well as administrative offices.听The project听is听unique in that it听is听the first听K-12 building听in New York City to use mass timber construction materials.听

A challenge for many urban schools is availability of space. As the demand for schools to expand in New York City increases, educational institutions that are looking to upgrade facilities and increase their footprints are often faced with difficult realities 鈥� zoning laws may prevent or limit upward expansion, or space might not be available for purchase or renovation directly adjacent to existing school buildings. This can lead to disjointed layouts and disruptive paths.听听

The design team, led by architecture firm WXY, found a solution in the reimagination of an existing space: Garden House 鈥� a four-story, 8,200-square-foot landmarked townhouse situated on the campus鈥� south edge that had served various purposes over the years 鈥� and a large, existing courtyard and play area that had not been renovated for a number of years. A full renovation of the townhouse would serve as a connection to a new, 17,250-square-foot, four-story addition to Garden House. This solution also created a seamless and climate-controlled pathway from one end of the Packer campus to the other.听

The project challenges the status quo when it comes to design. The building鈥檚 most notable feature is its mass-timber construction. Its main structural system is comprised of cross-laminated (CLT) and glulam (glue-laminated) timber made from sustainably sourced wood 鈥� spruce, pine, and fir 鈥� sourced from northern Ontario. Wood environments offer a number of physiological benefits to occupants, such as a reduction in stress levels and an increase in focus.听听听听

Archstone Builders served as the project鈥檚 general contractor, working with WXY听Architecture + Urban Design, structural engineer听TYLin Group, and the rest of the team to deliver听the project in time for the 2025 academic year.听Creative design and construction and a deep understanding of local building laws and ordinances allow project teams to advise schools on the best next steps to create a unified campus.听听

Packer had previously carried out several improvement and expansion projects; prior to the Garden House expansion, the school was comprised of six interconnected buildings. Its location in a historic district makes renovations tricky 鈥� the project team needed to work closely with NYC鈥檚 Landmarks Preservation Commission to ensure all materials were compliant with guidelines for the district.听听

Packer, like many educational institutions, wanted its new building to have certain sustainable elements to ensure the wellness of occupants and contribute to a responsible carbon footprint. The roof of the new four-story addition has two expansive green spaces that help reduce the听building鈥檚 stormwater听runoff and helps to enhance the energy efficiency of the envelope. Packer鈥檚 newest building fully听operates听on electricity to support a transition from reliance on fossil fuels.听听

The new building鈥檚 brick fa莽ade matches the diverse masonry palette found in the campus鈥� existing historical buildings. The bricks were made from 100% recycled clay content that was sourced from 30% post-consumer waste and 70% manufacturing waste. The exterior of the new building also features bird frit glazing,听which听offers natural daylight and direct views onto the new garden.听听

During construction 鈥� which started in summer 2023 鈥� the Packer school was fully in use by students and staff, which presented several challenges. The courtyard project鈥� designed by Starr Whitehouse 鈥� was carried out in several phases; the new basketball court was delivered as soon as possible so the students could have access to clear outdoor space. As certain portions of the exterior were completed and handed back over to the school, the team also had to reroute egress paths out of the existing buildings. 听

The construction of the new building in the existing courtyard led to several upgrades to Packer鈥檚 exterior space, which was fully demolished and redesigned to include a new playground, removal and relocation of existing trees, an extension of the existing patio entryway, new pavement, and new plantings.听听

The new courtyard uses permeable surfaces to ensure better water management.听Nearly 90 percent听of the site鈥檚 40 new trees, 179 shrubs, and more than 1,000 perennials and grasses are regionally native or climate resilient. These plantings complement the relocated mature trees and improve the听air听and water quality of the site.听听

The听current direction in educational facilities focuses听on engaging听and听active spaces that encourage听learning听both听through the听design and setting of a building. Packer鈥檚 new听building excels听on all fronts听while creating a unique learning space for years to come.鈥�听

Tom听Rogers is a听Project听Manager at Archstone Builders.听Tom has听a听Master鈥檚听Degree in Civil Engineering with Architecture听and听has more than听15 years听of experience in the education construction sector听

Jabin Pu is a project manager at Archstone Builders.听Jabin has a Bachelor鈥檚 Degree in Civil Engineering and is a certified NYS Engineer in Training with more than 5 years of experience in the education construction sector.听

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By听Alexandra听Korestski听IIDA, NCIDQ,听and听William Wong,听AIA,听LEED AP听

How can school construction project teams tap into student creativity听and听make听their听project itself听a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience? In an East Coast STEAM school expansion build-out, school leaders and contractors, along with architects and interior designers from听Spacesmith, put the entire high school body in the driver鈥檚 seat to design their future.听

As designer and architect for this endeavor, the team learned to advocate for high school students in a new way. The process offers 鈥渁 roadmap for student advocacy and championing schools by letting students be an integrated part of their facility planning and design,鈥澨齛ccording to the local AIA chapter.听Designed听like听a STEAM workplace, the result 鈥� the听听in the Brooklyn Navy Yard,听a New York City Public School听鈥� is a 鈥渟chool built听with听students,听for听students,鈥澨齛nd a replicable process for high schools around the country.听

The roadmap for advancing student outcomes is anchored in the integration of curricular goals and enrichment planning with the design and construction of the school itself.听In this听case, the听school leaders envisioned their听STEAM Center to听resemble听a workplace,听an environment for听students听to听be treated as young professionals and听for them to听learn听skills and听hands-on trades that听are听applicable听to听real-world听occupations and industries.听Highlighting听and听elevating听all the inner workings that听comprise听the built environment, the project team could enrich a varied group of STEAM education subjects.听

Almost doubling its footprint on the full third floor of听the Brooklyn Navy Yard鈥檚听Building 77,听the project creates听27,000 square feet听of bright and comfortable classrooms, shops, lounge areas, and administrative zones. The entire space is听customized for academic success听in the school鈥檚 three departments 鈥� Building Trade Systems, Computer Technology Systems, and Engineering 鈥� and eight curricular听pathways including carpentry,听cybersecurity听and manufacturing.听听

Guided by the school鈥檚 distinctive, career-oriented curriculum, the project team and Brooklyn STEAM Center听sought听to engage students as emerging professionals. In听close collaboration with school leadership,听Spacesmith听helped shape the process around three key strategies that support student engagement through an interactive, hands-on approach:听

1. Student听pre-design input.听The design team spent a day at the STEAM center听observing听the general operations, student听arrival听and听departure schedules as the Senior and Junior classes changeover from morning to afternoon, revisiting each area at multiple points throughout the day to see how each space is used.听听
2. Design听input.听The design team led two design charettes with students听representing听each of the pathways, which was the main driver in the design for the common space.听听
3. Construction听input.听During the construction phase, the design team and general contractor hosted monthly tours for the Construction Technology听student groups.听听

Through a collaborative design process with both students and staff at the Brooklyn STEAM Center, the听school鈥檚听layout moves beyond the pure efficiency of a typical classroom model to create a vibrant, flexible environment. Biophilic elements and movable furniture support a range of uses, allowing spaces to shift with daily needs. Curved lighting reinforces this sense of fluidity鈥攅voking waves and water in response to the Brooklyn Navy Yard setting鈥攚hile introducing听a natural听softness and enabling flexible furniture arrangements without reliance on fixed point lighting.听

Student input played听a central role听in shaping quieter, less stimulating areas for focus and privacy. In response, the design incorporates two smaller-scale lounge areas, or 鈥淔ocus Nooks,鈥� that provide retreat while听maintaining听appropriate staff听visibility.听

Glazed classroom entrances enhance transparency and connection, with color film patterns derived from the STEAM Center鈥檚 identity of abstracted tool forms. These openings draw daylight deeper into听the space听and offer glimpses into each classroom鈥檚 unique character and activity.听

In contrast to Building 77鈥檚 industrial palette, the design听layers in听warmth and vibrancy through acoustic panels, lounge furniture, and other student-driven elements. A pegboard installation above the pantry cabinets maps Brooklyn and partner school locations, serving as an evolving, participatory feature. Its kit-of-parts鈥攕imple shelves and interchangeable components鈥攁llows students to adapt and contribute over time, creating a living installation where each class can leave its mark.听

To address noise during class transitions鈥攁 key concern raised by both educators and students鈥攁coustic treatments are carefully integrated across floors, walls, and ceilings, supporting a more focused and comfortable learning environment.听

Materials throughout are school-grade and selected for durability, health, and minimal environmental impact, while also introducing a palette of organic, natural elements. Together with a range of varied, neuro-inclusive settings, the design supports the diverse ways students learn today. Each classroom is equipped with modular, highly flexible furnishings, allowing both students and instructors to adapt their environment to different teaching styles and modes of engagement.听听

In these ways and more, the expanded Brooklyn STEAM Center reflects the vision and ambition of its students. It serves not only as a place of learning, but as an inspiring launchpad for future educational pathways and professional lives.听听听

Alexandra Koretski, IIDA, NCIDQ, is a senior associate at Spacesmith. William Wong, AIA, LEED AP,听joined Spacesmith as an architect and project manager.

Get more weekly reports and timely updates by subscribing for free at听schoolconstructionnews.com/subscribe.

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NEW YORK 鈥� The new Pre-K Center 613 facility was recently selected as one of the winners of the Concrete Industry Board鈥檚 Award of Merit for best design in concrete.

Located at 369 93rd Street in Brooklyn, the new three-story school is sited in a dense urban block surrounded by residential buildings, developed by the New York City School Construction Authority and designed by MDSzerbaty Associates Architecture as part of Mayor Bill DeBlasio鈥檚 鈥淧re-K-For-All鈥� initiative.

鈥淲e are grateful for the challenges given to us by the SCA to consider alternate systems for the structure and envelope to expedite construction,鈥� said Michael Freedman, principal of MDSzerbaty Associates Architecture. 鈥淥ur use of a concrete structure, prefabricated precast wall panels and curtain wall resulted in a high quality, energy-efficient building that was constructed in record time.鈥�

The rest of the project鈥檚 team includes: Thornton Tomasetti (Weidlinger Associates, Inc.) as structural engineer of record, NYC SCA Construction Management as construction manager, T. Moriarty & Son, Inc. as general contractor, Darcon Construction, Inc. as concrete subcontractor (foundation and superstructure), BPDL Inc. (Be虂ton Pre虂fabrique虂 du Lac) as concrete subcontractor (precast), U.S. Concrete-New York as ready mix concrete supplier, and Future Tech Consultants of NY, Inc. as the field testing laboratory.

The building is a concrete structure with a highly efficient precast concrete, curtain wall and metal rain screen envelope that exceeds energy code requirements. Expansive glass surfaces with shade control brings significant natural light to interiors.

The school is also honored for its outstanding design in the 2018 American School and University Architectural Portfolio, a premier showcase celebrating the best in educational design.

The school provides 14 classrooms for 252 students and includes administration offices, a community room and a clerestory-lit multi-purpose room at the cellar level. The interiors use a variety of materials that tie together common and classroom spaces with a soft yet vibrant color palette. The front yard setback provides space for outdoor play areas.

To shorten the construction duration, a reinforced concrete frame with architectural insulated precast wall panels were chosen for their ability to be rapidly constructed and erected.

The building is a Certified NYC Green School, equivalent or greater than LEED for Schools Certification.

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