Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Construction Firm Completes Two Projects for Manhattan Private Schools

  • By Matt Jones
  • 07/25/22

A recent news release reports that construction firm EW Howell Construction Group has completed expansion and renovation projects at two private K–8 schools in Manhattan, N.Y. EW Howell served as the general contractor for a new, 30,000-square-foot facility for Harlem Academy and as the construction manager for expansions to Village Community School.

Harlem Academy interior
Harlem Academy interior
Photos courtesy of Den 25 Creative Studio

The new facility for Harlem Academy covers 30,000 square feet, stands five stories and will be the school’s first permanent home; the school previously rented space along three storefronts. The new space will allow the school to double its enrollment capacity to about 240, including separate spaces for kindergarteners and students in grades 6–8. Amenities include an open entry / commons area, a café, outdoor play space and a new library.

“Harlem Academy was a unique project because of the size of the project site, which allowed for a brand-new building and a ground-level play yard, a rare opportunity we don’t often see for private schools in Manhattan,” said EW Howell Vice President Dominic Paparo. “Due to space constraints, a usual project in this market would consist of the renovation of an existing school building or an adaptive re-use of an existing property into a school building.”

Village Community School exterior
Village Community School exterior

Renovations to the Village Community School, meanwhile, include a 30,000-square-foot, five-level expansion that required deep-site excavation to place a gymnasium in the basement. Other amenities include a new library, classrooms, a rooftop play area and special-skills classrooms. The school and EW Howell collaborated with Marvel Architects on the project, which also includes a curtain wall connecting the existing structure to the new addition to create the feel of a “showcase entrance,” according to the news release.

“It was a unique situation that we could utilize Village Community School’s existing ground-level play yard, which sat adjacent to the existing school building, as the site for the new expansion,” said Paparo. “While each project presented challenges, the result is two amazing new spaces with many opportunities for students and faculty.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Building Beyond Simulation: Creating Immersive Ecosystems for Healthcare Education

    Health sciences education is one of the fastest-growing facility types in colleges and universities. The demand for medical, nursing, and allied health professionals is driving the creation and renovation of medical simulation training facilities that provide students with real-world experience through advanced simulation-based learning.

  • Q&A: How to Prevent Kitchen Grease Fires in Commercial Kitchens

    School cafeterias and university dining halls serve thousands of meals daily, relying on high-heat equipment like fryers, grills, and ovens. While these operations keep students fed, they also generate significant grease-laden vapors. Without proper controls, this grease becomes a silent fire threat. As a certified exhaust cleaning specialist and business coach who has helped hundreds of institutional facilities achieve NFPA 96 compliance, I emphasize that proactive grease management isn’t optional; it’s a core fire/life safety practice.

  • Washington State University Debuts New Engineering Hall

    Washington State University recently celebrated a dedication ceremony for the new Schweitzer Engineering Hall on its Pullman campus in Pullman, Wash., according to university news. The facility measures 66,288 square feet, and its completion marks the first milestone in a larger university effort to modernize the engineering and design district.

  • Back-to-School Playground Safety: 7 Common Hazards to Look for After Summer Break

    As summer break comes to an end, school administrators have plenty to prepare before students return. While classrooms, hallways and common areas often receive attention during all the back-to-school preparations, the playground should not be overlooked. Months of weather exposure, storms, and regular wear can leave behind hazards that may not be immediately noticeable.