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JFK Elementary School

About This Project

Location:
Brewster, NY

Completion Date:
2017

Awards:
AIA WHV Citation Award, Learning by Design Outstanding Project

Location:
Brewster, NY

Completion Date:
2017

Awards:
AIA WHV Citation Award, Learning by Design Outstanding Project

The design team collaborated with the Brewster Central School District to complete key renovation and addition projects that transformed the JFK Elementary School into a Next Generation school. The project included a six-classroom addition, a library and cafeteria expansion and the renovation of the auditorium and roundhouse learning spaces.

First grade classroom and breakout learning area.

The first-grade classroom addition created a learning community by blurring the lines of the traditional classroom. The classrooms utilize moveable glass walls that allow learning to extend beyond the classroom into flexible, informal, breakout spaces. Each classroom offers direct access to the outdoors and terrace space with outdoor seating. Custom cabinetry with rolling white boards and flat screen technology camouflage generous shelving and storage space. Additionally, moveable cubbies and flexible furniture allow the classroom to be easily configured to fit a given program or lesson.

The IDEA Center and interior courtyard.

The school’s existing roundhouse was renovated and includes a flexible IDEA Center with bi-fold doors that open to an interior courtyard and terrace providing for indoor and outdoor learning. The IDEA Center has sliding marker boards that conceal storage and utilities, projector screen and flexible furniture that can be grouped to facilitate collaboration.

Renovated library and auditorium.

The library also has direct access to the interior courtyard along with a defined terrace space. The addition developed a stepped cove reading area with soft seating. The renovation incorporated appropriate height shelving, spaces for small group collaboration and various types of moveable furniture. The auditorium was renovated to include acoustic panels and fresh interior finishes. The space was expanded by incorporating a moveable wall, which allows the adjacent music classroom to be separated for smaller music classes or opened to the larger auditorium.