Stephen Gaynor School and Ballet Hispánico
The new tower of the Stephen Gaynor School houses a K-8 school for children with learning differences on its lower seven floors. The top three floors are home to the Ballet Hispánico.
The first floor lounge provides a casual place for students and faculty to interact. ©David Sundberg/ESTO
![03_RMA_ch03_002[1C]](/files/images/03-rma-ch03-002-1c40036.jpg)
The former site’s brownstone stair was easy for students to navigate and was a social center.
![03_RMA_ch03_003[1C]](/files/images/03-rma-ch03-003-1c26918.jpg)
The new Gaynor stair creates two smaller schools joined by a floor of shared programming. The intimacy of the brownstone is retained, and in a space that allows for growth.
Atrium stair
The design addresses the unique needs of students who often have orientation and navigation challenges. Marvel aimed to recapture the intimate spirit of the school’s former small brownstone site by dividing the program into upper and lower schools, stitched together with a generous atrium stair. ©Paul Warchol
![03_RMA_ch03_006[2A]](/files/images/03-rma-ch03-006-2a64106.jpg)
©Paul Warchol
![03_RMA_ch03_013[2B]](/files/images/03-rma-ch03-013-2b99996.jpg)
The concrete transfer trusses, seen here from the first floor, are a defining element both inside and out. ©Paul Warchol
![03_RMA_ch03_015[2B]](/files/images/03-rma-ch03-015-2b58416.jpg)
On the lower floors the stair is more contained; on the upper levels it expands toward the building perimeter, with views to the city from landings.
©David Sundberg/ESTO
©David Sundberg/ESTO
©David Sundberg/ESTO
The overscaled window in the library becomes a defining feature from the exterior. ©David Sundberg/ESTO
![03_RMA_ch03_014[2B]](/files/images/03-rma-ch03-014-2b6837.jpg)
Sketch of concrete transfer truss
©David Sundberg/ESTO
The facade takes color and material cues from its neighbors. ©David Sundberg/ESTO
![03_RMA_ch03_016[3A]](/files/images/03-rma-ch03-016-3a17770.jpg)
©Paul Warchol
Ballet Hispánico
The Ballet Hispánico houses three large studios with locker rooms, new offices, and services for the company and school staff. Each studio has panoramic views of the city to the north and south. Waffle slab construction allows column-free studios. © David Sundberg/ESTO
- Location
- New York, New York
- Client
- Stephen Gaynor School & Ballet Hispanico
- Typology
- Schools
- Size
- 51,500 SF
- Design Team
- Jonathan Marvel, Thaddeus Briner, Lissa So
- Consultants
- Severud Associates, Flack & Kurtz, Reg Hough (Concrete), Hansen
- Awards
- AIA NY State Award of Merit, Boston Society of Architects, K-12 Educational Facilities Design Award, AIA NYC Architecture Merit Award
- Photography Credits
- David Sundberg, Amy Barkow, Paul Warchol, and Nathan Sayers
