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

  • ClassVR headsets

    Avantis Education Revamps Hardware for ClassVR Solution

    Avantis Education recently announced the launch of two new headsets for its flagship educational VR/AR solution, ClassVR. According to a news release, the Xcelerate and Xplorer headsets expand the company’s offerings into higher education while continuing to meet the evolving needs of K–12 users.

  • North Dakota State University Completes Music School Renovation

    North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D., recently announced that construction on the Challey School of Music has finished, according to a news release. The university partnered with Foss Architecture & Interiors for design and Kraus-Anderson for construction services, and construction began in July 2024.

  • University of Kansas Opens $400M Football Stadium Reconstruction

    The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., recently announced that the $400-million reconstruction of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium is complete in time for the 2025 football season, according to a news release. The university partnered with Turner Construction Company on the project.

  • Kimball Showroom Earns WELL Certified Platinum Distinction

    Commercial furnishings company Kimball International recently announced that its showroom in New York City has achieved WELL Certification at the Platinum level as dictated by the International WELL Building Institute, according to a news release. The certification demonstrates a continuing commitment to creating environments that promote health, well-being, and productivity.