comment
The Reece School
Camino Nuevo High School
Dena New Primary Center
Four Corners School
John C. Daniels
Middle School, Sidwell Friends School
Vail Mountain School
Rosa Parks School
Klein Campus Center
North Central Junior High
PS 253QPS 253Q
A large school on a small site creates a sense of solidity with style.
The design objective for this new school was to develop a classic modernist vocabulary while complying with the client’s strict planning and materials standards. The emphasis is on reinterpreting the use and combination of traditional materials such as brick and stone, curtain wall and glass block, windows and clerestory in such a manner as to create an informal aggregation of parts. The massing is equally informal, articulating various functions in the program into an asymmetric disposition of volumes. Despite this thoroughly modern approach, the intent is to convey an institutional character exemplified by older city schools. This is accomplished by creating a sense of solidity and a hierarchy of elements, particularly at the corner entrance. The result is an architecture that stands out without straining to announce itself too loudly.
Based on what you have seen and read about this project, how would you grade it? Use the stars below to indicate your assessment, five stars being the highest rating.
PS 253Q is a 93,000 SF, 750-student new elementary school—Pre-Kindergarten through 5th Grade—on a 1.4-acre urban site. The great challenge of this project for Urbahn Architects was to design a large school on a tight city lot while at the same time providing an adequate outdoor play area. Consequently, the school was planned as a three-story building with the play area cradled within the arms of the C-shaped block. Placing large anchor spaces such as the auditorium and the library on one end and the cafeteria and gym on the other generated the plan of the school. The classroom block straddles these two anchor spaces.
The front façade is stepped back to adhere to the zoning envelope and minimize the street bulk in a residential neighborhood. The auditorium, library and gymnasium are articulated in terms of massing and fenestration. The corner, with the building’s main entrance, is clearly distinguished by change of material. Stone, glazed brick, curtain wall and glass block are introduced here in a carefully controlled composition. In the interior, by introducing vibrant colors and patterns and bringing in extensive natural light, a cheerful environment is created. Even features such as guard screens in the stairwell are designed with bright colors to make the school feel animated.
Formal name of project: PS 253Q
Location: Far Rockaway, NY
Gross square footage: 93,000 sq.ft.
Total construction cost: $45,000,000
Owner: NYC School Construction Authority/Board of Education
Architect:
Urbahn Architects
49 West 37th Street
New York City, NY 10018
T: 212.239.0220
F: 212.563.5621
www.urbahn.com/
Video
Sign in to Comment
To write a comment about this story, please sign in. If this is your first time commenting on this site, you will be required to fill out a brief registration form. Your public username will be the beginning of the email address that you enter into the form (everything before the @ symbol). Other than that, none of the information that you enter will be publically displayed.