Our adaptive reuse of a 1950s postal facility created a dynamic “hyper-urban” 712-student school at the former Peck Slip in New York’s South Street Seaport Historic District. We worked closely with the State Historic Preservation Office to design a contemporary exterior envelope appropriate for the new educational use while reflecting the history of the site and the character of the District.
We gut-renovated the existing four-story concrete structure, added two stories on top and installed an outdoor playground on the roof. Fine metal mesh at the rooftop provides safety for the students while creating unobstructed views of the surroundings. Inside, special features included dedicated science classrooms, a library, a kitchen-dining complex and a flexible all-purpose “gymatorium” used during the school days and after hours.
