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One thousand seats will be available at the new PS-IS 176
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One thousand new seats are opening in time for the 2010-11 school year in Battery Park City (BPC). For the local community, parents, and students grade kindergarten through 8, the new PS/IS 276, is a welcome addition to a thriving neighborhood. And beyond filling the immediate local needs, the high-rise school is setting a high standard for its many green building innovations.
Located at 55 Battery Place at the southern end of BPC, the school is one of the first in the city to be built under the New York City School Construction Authority’s Green Schools Guide. The guide was developed in part by Dattner Architects in 2007, so it’s appropriate that the same firm designed the new school -- maximizing every eco-smart classroom, corridor, and common space.
PS/IS 276 rises eight stories between 1st and 2nd Place, its curved façade complimenting its modern neighbors like the Solaire at 70 Little West Street. Notably sleek for a combination elementary and middle school, the steel-and-brick tower was built with a substantial amount of recycled materials. At the same time, approximately 82 percent of its waste materials were diverted from landfills through recycling and reuse.
“There are some very unique features you won’t find in other schools,” says John Woelfling, a principal at Dattner and one of the architects behind many of the structure’s environmentally sound details. He adds that the building was designed and built in a compressed timeframe, with construction complete in just over two years.
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| John Woelfling recently gave a tour of the school |
Woelfling begins a recent tour pointing out that the photovoltaic array of panels will absorb solar energy from both on the roof and atop the front awning. The 50 kilowatts of energy they’re able to capture will deliver up to half of the building’s electric load. And that load is diminished by “daylight harvesting,” a system of lighting sensors that automatically dim or brighten based on available natural light. Likewise, heat recovery and occupancy sensors ensure minimal energy output based on who’s in any given room or office.
Perched on the eighth-floor corner balcony, the outdoor science “classroom” adds another unique element. Safely enclosed by a steel-wire mesh, the space is lined with planters that Woelfling says will soon be sprouting tomatoes and other plants. Down the hall, stairwells are outfitted with large windows to maximize daylight and thereby encourage their use.
And then there’s the view. The school’s lot faces north, west, and south, giving students in the school cafeteria and library a striking view into New York Harbor directly to the Statue of Liberty. The cafeteria also has a one-of-a-kind art installation: a frieze triptych that holds dozens of ceramic plates donated by the local community -- lending a whimsical touch of home to this highly polished (though maybe not for long) common area.
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| The lower floors house a full-size gymnasium |
The lower floors house a full-size gymnasium (sizing out at 5,400 square feet) and a 300-seat auditorium, where an ADA-compliant lift from the floor to stage is in place, and where a baby-grand piano already sits awaiting a future soloist. An outdoor track and play area fill out the roof above the gym and auditorium.
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