East New York Family Academy
Marvel was commissioned by the NYC School Construction Authority to reimagine the East New York Family Academy, with the goal of modernizing the school for 602 students and renovating the pool facilities for after-school use. Guided by the ethos of "family" imbued by the academy's community, Marvel designed communal ground-floor spaces for maximum interaction, classroom spaces around bright circulation areas for easy gathering, and classrooms with large windows for natural light and neighborhood connections.
At five stories, the vertical block pushes higher than the surrounding residential structures, without overwhelming the scale of the neighborhood.
The play area design was built to create a buffer between the busier Linden Avenue and the main volumes of the school.
The entry node creates a focal point to guide students to each quadrant of the school. A reflective sculpture by Graham Caldwell shimmers with movement throughout the corridors.
Art credits: Graham Caldwell
East NY Family Academy, Brooklyn
Collection of the NYC Department of Education, Public Art for Public Schools
Classroom design emphasized maximizing natural light, using ceiling height windows as much as possible.
Gymatorium: combination of gym and auditorium.
Renovating the existing pool facility, a rarity in New York City public schools, was integral to the design process.
- Location
- Brooklyn, New York
- Client
- NYC SCA
- Typology
- Schools, Sustainable , Institutional
- Size
- 88,000 SF
- Design Team
- Jonathan Marvel, Guido Hartray, Craig Kim
- Photography Credits
- © Joshua Simpson
