By Susan Haigh

It鈥檚 not unusual for architects to work closely with a handful of client representatives throughout a construction project. But when designing a 27,000-square-foot addition to the Brooklyn STEAM Center, a career and technical education hub, New York-based architecture, planning and interior design firm Spacesmith invited dozens of high school students into the design process.

During a series of design charrettes, 12 to 15 high school juniors and seniors representing the center鈥檚 various career pathways gathered with architects to share ideas and help shape the project. Later, as construction progressed, students in the STEAM Center鈥檚 Construction Technology program toured the site about once a month to get an up-close look at how the building was taking shape.

鈥淭his was an experiment for us,鈥� said Alexandra Korestki, Senior Associate at Spacesmith. 鈥淗aving so many more voices in the room, sometimes with wildly different or conflicting opinions, there was the worry about how can we deliver for all of them? How do we make sure that no one walks away disappointed?鈥�

Korestki credits Brooklyn STEAM鈥檚 leadership with making the collaborative approach possible.

鈥淯ltimately, having the students present for the discussions about project challenges and constraints, getting insight into all the factors that go into project decisions, not only helped get the buy-in from the rest of the student population, but also gave them a sense of ownership and responsibility for the space, even when some of their ideas from the charrette couldn鈥檛 be implemented,鈥� she said.

Designing with Students

Student input ultimately shaped key elements of the design. Early plans called for a single large common area that would serve as a gathering place for breaks and student events. But discussions during a pair of design charrettes, where students brainstormed and sketched ideas for their ideal space, convinced the design team that students and staff needed a variety of places to recharge rather than one central gathering area.

Those conversations revealed several recurring themes, including safety, representation, nature, joy and rest.

鈥淭hey described a need for quieter, calmer, low-stimulus areas to take a break when they鈥檙e overwhelmed or stressed from academic pressures,鈥� Korestki said.

In response, the design team was intentional about matching colors and textures with the scale and purpose of each space. Small 鈥渇ocus nooks鈥� 鈥� semiprivate niches at the ends of corridors, away from busy foot traffic but still within sight of staff 鈥� were designed with darker, monochromatic palettes intended to create a calming atmosphere. A lounge for small groups and the commons for larger gatherings, meanwhile, feature brighter colors and materials meant to encourage creativity and collaboration, she said.

Students continued meeting with the design team throughout the process, giving them an opportunity to see how their ideas evolved from sketches into finished spaces.

Empowering Students and Staff

At Brooklyn STEAM, which is located at the Brooklyn Navy Yard 鈥� a 300-acre industrial waterfront campus in Brooklyn, N.Y., that鈥檚 home to more than 550 businesses 鈥� students are treated and trusted as young professionals. Spacesmith leaned into that philosophy, giving students and instructors as much control as possible over their environment.

鈥淓verything is modular and easily movable, so the classrooms and common space can be reconfigured to suit daily needs,鈥� Korestki said.

Curved sofas in the commons can be arranged into 鈥渃oncave modules鈥� that encourage conversation or 鈥渃onvex modules鈥� that create more private seating areas facing away from others.

鈥淗aving choices and some control over how [the sofas] exist in the environment fosters that sense of ownership and some control and responsibility for the space that they might not have in a typical high school,鈥� she said.

The center鈥檚 addition opened in October 2025. Designed between July 2023 and May 2024, the project includes new classrooms, shops, lounge areas and administrative space. The expansion is anchored by an entry wall that features the school鈥檚 logo and tool-inspired motifs.

The expansion houses six career pathways: HVAC climate control systems, game design, industrial product realization, manufacturing, live production technology and audio engineering. Students enrolled at Brooklyn STEAM Center split their time between their traditional high schools, where they take academic courses such as math and English, and the STEAM Center, where they receive hands-on technical training.

Enrollment is expected to double to 600 students with the expansion, part of New York City Public Schools鈥� goal of preparing 100,000 students for market-aligned careers by 2030.

鈥淭his center connects our students to life-changing opportunities, and we are so grateful that this expansion will allow more students to gain these experiences,鈥� said former NYC Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos when the addition opened in October 2025.

Founded in 2017, the STEAM Center offers courses co-designed with industry partners, including many Brooklyn Navy Yard tenants. Students also participate in paid internships, site visits and other work-based learning opportunities with businesses across the campus.

鈥淏y placing education within our innovation ecosystem, we create the conditions for students to see themselves in the jobs of tomorrow and as a result see remarkable outcomes for students,鈥� said Lindsay Greene, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

This article was featured as the Facility Showcase in the . To learn more about how the new facility was designed to be flexible for evolving programming, .

The post Full STEAM Ahead: A Newly Expanded Brooklyn STEAM Center Empowers Students and Staff appeared first on 糖心少女.

The post Full STEAM Ahead: A Newly Expanded Brooklyn STEAM Center Empowers Students and Staff appeared first on 糖心少女.

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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