P.S. 69
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates

Bold design and innovative technology combined in an urban setting

© Elliott Kaufman

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P.S. 69 is a new 100,000-square-foot four-story school for 650 pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade students. It is the first New York City public school built with a wireless computer network. A translucent canopy, cantilevered from the curved façade, guides children through the entrance and into the atrium’s open, light-filled space. Upper-level glass-block floors allow natural light to reach the spaces below. A monumental stair leads from the entrance through the atrium to the second floor. Along the atrium’s windows on the third floor are seating areas for informal gathering.

Most classrooms are in the long rectangular wing, to the left of the atrium as you enter. The curvilinear volume of the other wing contains the gymnasium, library, auditorium, and cafeteria. The interior features a bright color scheme of blue, orange, green, and yellow. P.S. 69’s ample inventory of three hundred laptops allows flexibility in the number of computers each class can use at any given time. Its wireless network allows teachers to configure classrooms in ways that best meet their needs, with or without computers, in either indoor or outdoor gathering spaces.

In contrast to the interior’s bright palette, a variety of materials adds visual interest to an active design on the exterior. The rectangular wing features brick in warm tones with accents of charcoal and a base of charcoal brick. Wrap-around bay windows maximize light, creating a sense of openness. At the southwest facade, metal awnings reduce glare and the curvilinear wing is clad in soft-red pre-cast concrete.

Formal name of Project:
P.S. 69

Location:
Brooklyn, N.Y.

Gross square footage:
100,000 sq ft

Owner' s Rep:
New York City School Construction Authority
30-30 Thomson Avenue
Long Island City, NY 11101-3045
718-472-8000/ 718-472-8250 (Fax)

Architect:
Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates LLP
902 Broadway, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10010
(212) 677-6030
Fax (212) 979-0535
www.hhpa.com