The design of this 2,400-pupil campus covers nearly nine acres of land in the Bronx, New York, resulting in the largest public school construction project to be completed since the creation of the City’s School Construction Authority. Alexander Gorlin Architects worked in partnership with Perkins Eastman Architects and the New York City School Construction Authority during the schematic design and design development stages of the project.
The 300,000 sq. ft. campus comprises four schools, arranged in a courtyard scheme, that balance the need for both separate and shared facilities. The schools are centered around a communal auditorium, library, and gymnasium, while each has its own dining hall that helps generate social cohesion among pupils. This approach allows each school to keep classes small and develop a unique identity, yet benefit from larger shared cultural and athletic facilities. The campus sits atop a steep slope above extensive shared sports fields that create a natural barrier between the school buildings and the Metro North railway track that borders the site.