• A 55,000-square-foot, four-story addition increases capacity at P.S. 116Q by 325 seats, or roughly 60%.听
• Upgrades include all-electric heating and cooling, rooftop solar panels, a green roof and a street-level entrance with an elevator.听
• RKTB Architects designed the expansion with the New York City School Construction Authority, with Navillus Contracting serving as the general contractor.听

NEW YORK 鈥� A 55,000-square-foot expansion and modernization of P.S. 116Q in the Jamaica, Queens has added 325 student seats while upgrading the school鈥檚 accessibility, building systems and instructional spaces.听

Designed by RKTB Architects in partnership with the New York City School Construction Authority, the four-story addition increases capacity at the pre-K-8 school by roughly 60%, according to the supplied news release. The school celebrated its reopening for the 2026-27 school year with an Oct. 9 ribbon-cutting.听

鈥淚t is not enough just to add capacity,鈥� Albert Aronov, RKTB principal and head of the firm鈥檚 academic studio, said in a release from RKTB. 鈥淎dditions to public schools represent an opportunity to address the changing needs of the communities they serve, and to reimagine how the physical plant functions.鈥�听

Completed over the summer, the project meets New York City鈥檚 Green Schools Guide standard, which is based on LEED v4.1, according to the release. Navillus Contracting served as the general contractor on the project.

The design replaces fossil fuel-based heating with all-electric heating and cooling using air-source heat pump chillers and custom variable air volume rooftop units.听The mechanical upgrades incorporate energy recovery ventilation and MERV 13 filters to improve indoor air quality throughout the expanded facility. Rooftop photovoltaic panels generate electricity, while a vegetated roof reduces stormwater runoff.听

Accessibility improvements center on a new street-level entrance, lobby and elevator core, replacing an entrance reached by a large flight of stairs. The lobby includes a security checkpoint and reception area, and administrative offices have moved to the ground floor to improve access for parents.听

Larger windows bring additional daylight into classrooms and corridors, with controls teachers can adjust as needed, according to Nelya Sachakova, an RKTB associate and the project manager.听

鈥淭he school鈥檚 art teacher mentioned to us how important this is, as she finds lower illumination levels to be effective in helping overstimulated students focus,鈥� Sachakova said in the supplied news release.听

The expansion also provides dedicated art, music and science rooms with new tools and equipment. A new cafeteria and kitchen replace the multipurpose room previously used for dining, while new pre-K classrooms include individual, age-appropriate restrooms.听

Aronov said the firm鈥檚 work with the authority emphasizes healthier learning environments and support for students with a range of abilities. He also said coordination with school leaders allows construction to proceed safely and on schedule while schools remain operational.听

This article is based on an emailed news release from RKTB Architects.听

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