[ad_1]
Joyful learning, choice, and belonging are seen as central to student success at Ascend Public Charter School, a network of Brooklyn K-12 schools. When our design team was introduced to Ascend, we learned about the school’s inspiring mission and their desire to advance that mission through planning and design.
Inspiring and cost-effective school design
MBB Architects were commissioned by Ascend to design a series of new schools, including interior fit-out and conversion of existing buildings and ground-level structures. Working on a tight budget, we helped the school raise its interior design standards and provide a differentiated learning environment that supports the school’s inquiry-based approach to learning. Our work included optimizing daylight, eliminating toxic building materials and creating a more fluid layout.
Increased daylight penetration and visibility
Flatbush Ascend Secondary School is the first school in a series completed by MBB and is a case study of exciting and cost-effective school design on a compact corner site. The design brings daylight associated with health and academic achievement deep into the six-story, 42,000-square-foot building on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn. Our carefully configured floor plan and use of internal glass partitions increase daylight penetration and visibility while reducing glare. Colorful walls and built-in seating nooks help kick-start the informal gathering space.
Provide a spacious space experience
Our work began after the core and shell of the building were completed, requiring complex space planning to create a generous, interconnected spatial experience that aligns with the school’s focus on belonging. To regain valuable square footage, MBB recommended modifications to the structural components surrounding the elevator core. Our team crafted the building’s 100-foot by 90-foot floor plates, solving three-dimensional puzzles to make the school feel bright and open.
Light, color and materials create a joyful environment
The entrance hall’s sloping wooden ceiling brings daylight into the flexible cafeteria and event space. The cafeteria, adorned with a custom tile patterned wall, quickly transitions from food service to an auditorium with stackable chairs. The light-filled gymnasium is visible from multiple adjacent spaces through internal glass walls. Lighting fixtures in classrooms and corridors are carefully designed to create a healthy and happy learning environment. Colorful seating alcoves in the corridors, as well as super graphics on the stair landings, differentiate each floor.
Photo © Ashok Sinha
[ad_2]
Source link