This new Manhattan tower for the Stephen Gaynor School and the Ballet Hispanico houses elementary and middle school for children with learning differences on the first seven floors; the ballet occupies the top three. The design addresses the unique needs of these students who often have orientation and navigation challenges. The project recaptures the intimate spirit of the school’s former small brownstone site by dividing the program into upper and lower schools, stitched together with a generous atrium stair.
The two schools intersect at a common core curriculum level featuring shared art, science, occupational therapy and library spaces. An outdoor classroom above a large library window gives students a visual connection to the surrounding neighborhood. The Ballet Hispanico above the Gaynor School houses three large studios, new offices, and services for the company and school staff. The studios are floor-through spaces to allow optimal natural light and ventilation, and to permit a broad range of choreographic possibilities. Each studio has panoramic views of the city to the north and south.
The new tower of the Stephen Gaynor School houses a K-8 school for children with learning differences on its lower seven floors. The top three floors are home to the Ballet Hispánico.
The facade takes color and material cues from its neighbors.
The overscaled window in the library becomes a defining feature from the exterior.
The concrete transfer trusses, seen here from the first floor, are a defining element both inside and out.
The first floor lounge provides a casual place for students and faculty to interact.
Atrium stair - The design addresses the unique needs of students who often have orientation and navigation challenges. Marvel aimed to recapture the intimate spirit of the school’s former small brownstone site by dividing the program into upper and lower schools, stitched together with a generous atrium stair.
Ballet Hispánico - The Ballet Hispánico houses three large studios with locker rooms, new offices, and services for the company and school staff. Each studio has panoramic views of the city to the north and south. Waffle slab construction allows column-free studios.
current Drawings and documents
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The former site’s brownstone stair was easy for students to navigate and was a social center.
The new Gaynor stair creates two smaller schools joined by a floor of shared programming. The intimacy of the brownstone is retained, and in a space that allows for growth.
Sketch of concrete transfer truss
On the lower floors the stair is more contained; on the upper levels it expands toward the building perimeter, with views to the city from landings.