Education Archives - Jack L. Gordon Architects

PS-85Q New School Annex

January 1, 2025

[vc_row css=".vc_custom_1737142192566{margin-top: -120px !important;padding-top: 280px !important;padding-bottom: 230px !important;background-image: url(https://jlgordon.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PS85-Banner.jpg?id=7359) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}" el_class="project-banner-section"][vc_column][vc_row_inner css=".vc_custom_1737142202438{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}"][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text] PS-85Q New School Annex [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] NYC School Construction Authority | New York, NY [/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_width="grid" css=".vc_custom_1732050781404{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}"][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text el_class=".inner_firm_page_2nd_last_section_text_code" css=".vc_custom_1751311334808{margin-right: 50px !important;margin-left: 50px !important;}"] JLGA's design for the PS-85Q New School Annex in Queens, NY, a 68,000 SF freestanding facility, aims to provide an innovative, sustainable learning environment for over 400 students. The building includes classrooms for Pre-K through grade 5, a cafeteria, and a gym-auditorium, all tailored to enhance both educational function and student experience. The design emphasizes a bright, welcoming interior with vibrant finishes and a striking mural in the entry lobby, reinforcing the facility’s purpose while fostering school spirit. Sustainability was a core focus of the project, with the goal of making the annex the most energy-efficient school in Queens. Working closely with the NYC School Construction Authority, JLGA implemented a range of energy-saving strategies, including a high-performance building envelope, optimized HVAC systems, and cutting-edge photovoltaic panels on the roof, expected to supply up to 50% of the building's energy. The design also prioritizes carbon reduction, using advanced materials and systems to minimize energy consumption and embodied carbon, positioning the project as a model of environmental responsibility. The building’s four-story design is a careful response to the site’s urban context, with a division between a teaching wing and a public-space wing that maximizes functionality and flexibility. Cost efficiency remained a key consideration, with only a slight increase in construction costs to accommodate advanced insulation and mechanical systems for energy efficiency. The PS-85Q Annex not only meets the educational needs of the community but also sets a new benchmark for sustainable school architecture, blending innovative design with a commitment to a carbon-neutral future. [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_width="grid" css=".vc_custom_1750244291609{padding-right:...

The Wang Pavilion

by Jack Gordon

January 1, 2025

[vc_row css=".vc_custom_1732045321637{margin-top: -120px !important;padding-top: 280px !important;padding-bottom: 230px !important;background-image: url(https://jlgordon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Wang-Pavilion-BANNER.jpg?id=6765) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}" el_class="project-banner-section"][vc_column][vc_row_inner css=".vc_custom_1731692383022{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}"][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text] The Wang Pavilion [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] Columbia University | Manhattan, NY [/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_width="grid" css=".vc_custom_1732050781404{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}"][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text el_class=".inner_firm_page_2nd_last_section_text_code" css=".vc_custom_1750871810556{margin-right: 50px !important;margin-left: 50px !important;}"] Since its opening in 1999, Alfred Lerner Hall has been a cornerstone of student life at Columbia University, serving both undergraduate and graduate students. This versatile student center accommodates a wide range of activities, from dining and socializing to campus business and diverse student events, with its mix of open and enclosed spaces. The facility continually adapts to meet the evolving needs of the student community. Identifying a need for additional social and performance spaces on campus, Columbia University selected Jack L. Gordon Architects to transform an underutilized basement-level space and mezzanine in the Alfred Lerner Hall student center into a 4,932 SF venue to support a variety of artistic disciplines including stage based performances such as jazz concerts, piano recitals, and poetry readings as well as group-based artistic activities and social gatherings. The design team was challenged to create a performance space that students could relate to. The finalized design locates the stage in the 2-story high space & wraps the stair around the back of the stage and as a result, students entering the lower level performance space from behind the stage, it becomes part of the pre-performance experience. In this carefully coordinated interior, every detail contributes to the overall effect. Perforated metal panel with color-changing LED backlighting adds a dynamic element to the space and can be calibrated for specific performances. The installation of acoustic wall panels and micro perforated wood ceiling provide excellent acoustics for the various types of performances. The Wang Pavilion is now ready to greet undergraduates eager to explore new adventures in the arts. [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_width="grid" css=".vc_custom_1732050814061{padding-top:...

Novogratz Center For Athletics

by Jack Gordon

January 1, 2025

[vc_row css=".vc_custom_1750267767461{margin-top: -120px !important;padding-top: 280px !important;padding-bottom: 230px !important;background-image: url(https://jlgordon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Novogratz-BANNER-1.jpg?id=6819) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}" el_class="project-banner-section"][vc_column][vc_row_inner css=".vc_custom_1750267761424{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}"][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text] Novogratz Center for Athletics [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] Poly Prep Country Day School | Brooklyn, NY [/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_width="grid" css=".vc_custom_1732050781404{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}"][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text el_class=".inner_firm_page_2nd_last_section_text_code" css=".vc_custom_1750692582359{margin-right: 50px !important;margin-left: 50px !important;}"] JLGA’s award-winning design for the 30,000 SF Novogratz Center for Athletics at Poly Prep Country Day School redefines the concept of athletic facilities, seamlessly blending the new structure with the existing gymnasium while establishing a strong visual dialogue with the surrounding fields and campus green. The façade’s expansive transparency frames sweeping views, fostering a sense of openness that connects the building to its environment. Bold and sculptural, the design plays with broad planes and asymmetric angles to create a striking presence. The athletic center honors Poly Prep’s storied 100-year history, while embodying the school’s commitment to innovation and forward-thinking excellence. With facilities that reflect the caliber of Poly Prep’s athletic programs, the center stands as a testament to both tradition and progress. The comprehensive program includes a reconfigurable full-court gym, an 11,000 sq. ft. wrestling area, a 12,500 sq. ft. squash center featuring six international courts, including two all-glass competition courts, along with concessions, locker rooms, staff offices, and a spectator mezzanine. The Novogratz Center’s design maximizes transparency through strategically placed glass, creating a dynamic focal point at the heart of campus life. This contemporary architectural statement not only invites participation and engagement with its athletics but also harmoniously connects the building to the existing gymnasium and the broader campus context, marking a bold, new chapter in Poly Prep’s legacy. [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height="64px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_width="grid"][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text] Location Brooklyn, NY Completion 2016 Area 30,000 SF Client Poly Prep Country Day School [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text] Recognition Winner: Award of Merit, Institutional, AIA Brooklyn + Queens Design Awards Winner: Award of Merit, Society of American Registered Architects NY Design Awards Winner: Outstanding Project Award, Learning by Design Magazine [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row...

Flatbush Avenue 3-K Center

by Jack Gordon

January 1, 2025

[vc_row css=".vc_custom_1732304239022{margin-top: -120px !important;padding-top: 280px !important;padding-bottom: 230px !important;background-image: url(https://jlgordon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Flatbush-BANNER-1.jpg?id=7017) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}" el_class="project-banner-section"][vc_column][vc_row_inner css=".vc_custom_1731692383022{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}"][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text] Flatbush Avenue 3-K Center [/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_width="grid" css=".vc_custom_1732050781404{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}"][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text el_class=".inner_firm_page_2nd_last_section_text_code" css=".vc_custom_1751316217958{margin-right: 50px !important;margin-left: 50px !important;}"] JLGA designed a 15,330 SF 3-K Education Center for the NYC School Construction Authority, transforming a historic 1930s-era building on Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn. The center accommodates 105 students across seven classrooms, plus an exercise room, administrative offices, and support spaces. Originally divided into eight storefronts, the building's stepped floors and irregular structural grid presented unique challenges. A 1980s renovation by a national pharmacy chain had merged the storefronts into a single retail unit, further complicating the design process. JLGA's solution involved rebuilding the ground floor slab to overcome these structural constraints, ensuring spacious, column-free classrooms within the building's original framework. This inventive approach successfully navigated tight timelines and pandemic-related supply chain challenges, delivering a functional, modern educational environment. [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_width="grid"][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text] Location Brooklyn, NY Completion 2023 Area 15,330 SF Client NYC School Construction Authority [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_width="grid"][vc_column][vc_empty_space height="64px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner css=".vc_custom_1732557300071{padding-right: 30px !important;padding-left: 30px !important;}"][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text] Related [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="64px"][edgtf_portfolio_list image_size="full" show_load_more="no" order_by="title" order="DESC" category="education" number="3" columns="3" filter="no"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]...

New Utrecht Avenue 3-K Center

by Jack Gordon

January 1, 2025

[vc_row css=".vc_custom_1732306111739{margin-top: -120px !important;padding-top: 280px !important;padding-bottom: 230px !important;background-image: url(https://jlgordon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/New-Utrecht-BANNER.jpg?id=7042) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}" el_class="project-banner-section"][vc_column][vc_row_inner css=".vc_custom_1731692383022{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}"][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text] New Utrecht Avenue 3-K Center [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] NYC School Construction Authority | Brooklyn, NY [/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_width="grid" css=".vc_custom_1732050781404{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}"][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text el_class=".inner_firm_page_2nd_last_section_text_code" css=".vc_custom_1751467810041{margin-right: 50px !important;margin-left: 50px !important;}"] JLGA has completed construction of a new Universal 3-K school on two floors of a newly built commercial building in the Borough Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. This 30,300 SF early education center includes 13 classrooms, two exercise rooms, kitchen facilities, and administration and service spaces. To meet the project's demanding four-month design schedule, JLGA implemented a streamlined design and production process that ensured efficiency without compromising quality. This approach not only enabled the team to meet the critical design deadline but also ensured adherence to NYC SCA budget guidelines and standards, while fulfilling JLGA’s commitment to design excellence—even amid the challenges of the ongoing pandemic. [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_width="grid"][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text] Location Brooklyn, NY Completion 2022 Area 30,300 SF Client NYC School Construction Authority [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_width="grid"][vc_column][vc_empty_space height="64px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner css=".vc_custom_1732556011242{padding-right: 30px !important;padding-left: 30px !important;}"][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text] Related [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="64px"][edgtf_portfolio_list image_size="full" show_load_more="no" order_by="title" order="DESC" category="education" number="3" columns="3" filter="no"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]...

Springfield Blvd. 3-K Center

by Jack Gordon

January 1, 2025

[vc_row css=".vc_custom_1732308865134{margin-top: -120px !important;padding-top: 280px !important;padding-bottom: 230px !important;background-image: url(https://jlgordon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Springfield-Blvd-BANNER.jpg?id=7074) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}" el_class="project-banner-section"][vc_column][vc_row_inner css=".vc_custom_1731692383022{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}"][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text] Springfield Blvd. 3-K Center [/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_width="grid" css=".vc_custom_1732050781404{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}"][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text el_class=".inner_firm_page_2nd_last_section_text_code" css=".vc_custom_1750694280101{margin-right: 50px !important;margin-left: 50px !important;}"] JLGA proudly contributed to NYC's 3-K Schools program with the design of a new 3-K Center in Queens, strategically located between the Laurelton and St. Albans neighborhoods. This small yet impactful project supports the city’s mission to offer young children an early educational foundation while assisting families navigating daily life. Housed on the top floor of a repurposed commercial building, the 9,100 sq. ft. space was transformed from medical offices into a dynamic, child-friendly learning environment. The redesign includes four classrooms, administrative offices, and kitchen areas, all tailored to meet the city's rigorous educational standards. The design incorporates reconfigured layouts, updated mechanical systems, and modern communications infrastructure, ensuring a safe, welcoming, and functional space. A new street-level entrance, framed by a landscaped side yard, guides visitors away from the busy parking lot, enhancing both safety and accessibility. At the rear, a vibrant outdoor play area provides much-needed recreational space for the children, completing the thoughtful integration of function and design within this urban setting. [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_width="grid"][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text] Location Queens, NY Completion 2020 Area 9,100 sq. ft. Client NYC School Construction Authority [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_width="grid"][vc_column][vc_empty_space height="64px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner css=".vc_custom_1732557808087{padding-right: 30px !important;padding-left: 30px !important;}"][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text] Related [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="64px"][edgtf_portfolio_list image_size="portrait" show_load_more="no" order_by="date" order="ASC" category="education" number="3" columns="3" filter="no"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]...

PS-217 Expansion

by Baron Baumeister

June 30, 2024

[vc_row css=".vc_custom_1751474799254{margin-top: -120px !important;padding-top: 280px !important;padding-bottom: 125px !important;background-image: url(https://jlgordon.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/PS217-Banner-01.jpg?id=7574) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}" el_class="project-banner-section"][vc_column][vc_row_inner css=".vc_custom_1750267761424{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}"][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text] PS-217 Expansion [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] NYC School Construction Authority | New York, NY [/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_width="grid" css=".vc_custom_1732050781404{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}"][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text el_class=".inner_firm_page_2nd_last_section_text_code" css=".vc_custom_1751311258416{margin-right: 50px !important;margin-left: 50px !important;}"] Located in Midwood, Brooklyn, PS-217 is a historic educational institution originally constructed in 1925. JLGA was selected to lead the comprehensive renovation and expansion of the school, which is designated as a landmarked structure. This status required close collaboration with the New York State Office of Historic Preservation to ensure that all interventions respected the building’s architectural legacy. The project consisted of the modernization of the existing 77,000 SF school building and the design of a new 34,000 SF addition. JLGA developed a phased construction strategy that prioritized minimizing disruption to students and staff while addressing critical spatial and infrastructural challenges. The modernization plan responded directly to the concerns of parents, teachers, and administrators regarding overcrowding, outdated building systems, evolving educational methodologies, and the needs of a multilingual student body. The newly constructed wing provided contemporary, internet-ready classrooms and learning environments, offering much-needed relief from the undersized spaces of the original building and acting as swing space, enabling the renovation of the building to proceed floor by floor without interrupting the academic calendar. Interior upgrades throughout the original school enhanced functionality and flexibility while preserving key historic elements. The design supports the school’s evolving pedagogical goals, including inclusive learning, technology integration, and support for a linguistically and culturally diverse population. Through sensitive design and strategic phasing, JLGA transformed PS-217 into a modern learning environment that honors its architectural heritage while meeting the needs of 21st-century education. [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height="64px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_width="grid"][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text] Location Brooklyn, NY Completion 1997 Area 34,000 SF Client NYC School Construction Authority [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_row_inner content_width="grid"][vc_column_inner][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Related [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="64px"][vc_row_inner content_width="grid"][vc_column_inner][edgtf_portfolio_list image_size="full" show_load_more="no" order_by="title" order="DESC" category="education" number="3" columns="3" filter="yes" filter_order_by="name"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]...

Nightingale-Bamford School Expansion

by Baron Baumeister

June 30, 2024

[vc_row css=".vc_custom_1751474891624{margin-top: -120px !important;padding-top: 280px !important;padding-bottom: 120px !important;background-image: url(https://jlgordon.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/NB-Banner-02.jpg?id=7562) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}" el_class="project-banner-section"][vc_column][vc_row_inner css=".vc_custom_1750267761424{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}"][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text] Nightingale-Bamford School Expansion [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] Manhattan, NY [/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_width="grid" css=".vc_custom_1732050781404{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}"][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text el_class=".inner_firm_page_2nd_last_section_text_code" css=".vc_custom_1751311685671{margin-right: 50px !important;margin-left: 50px !important;}"] Founded in 1920, the Nightingale-Bamford School has long stood at the forefront of girls' education, serving students from kindergarten through grade 12. For decades, the school operated within a 1929 building originally designed for half its current enrollment. This historical project highlights the firm's commitment to bettering educational spaces around the country. Overcrowded conditions increasingly challenged the school's ability to deliver its exceptional academic program. To address this, JLGA was commissioned to develop and implement a comprehensive Master Plan to guide the school’s long-term growth. In close collaboration with the Board of Trustees, school leadership, and faculty, JLGA explored a range of expansion strategies, each evaluated in terms of educational goals, budget, and phasing requirements. The resulting design reimagined the school as a 100,000 SF, state-of-the-art educational facility. The project included new classrooms for lower, middle, and upper school divisions; a dedicated lunchroom; a two-story library; a regulation gymnasium; and a flexible-use, column-free auditorium. The building was also upgraded with modern mechanical systems, including new HVAC infrastructure and advanced communication technologies. Working within the constraints of a dense urban site, JLGA employed a mix of renovation and new construction techniques—building adjacent to, above, and below the existing structure. The Nightingale-Bamford School expansion stands as a testament to strategic planning and innovative design, ensuring the school’s mission could continue to thrive in a modernized, future-ready environment. [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text] [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height="64px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_width="grid"][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text] Location Manhattan, NY Completion 1991 Area 100,000 SF Client The Nightingale-Bamford School [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][/vc_column][vc_column][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=".vc_custom_1751489689840{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}"][vc_column_text] Related [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="64px"][edgtf_portfolio_list image_size="full" show_load_more="no" order_by="title" order="DESC" category="athletics" number="3" columns="3" filter="no"][/vc_column][/vc_row]...

Kripke Tower Renovation

by Baron Baumeister

June 23, 2023

[vc_row el_class="project-banner-section" css=".vc_custom_1750884090021{margin-top: -120px !important;padding-top: 280px !important;padding-bottom: 230px !important;background-image: url(https://jlgordon.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kripke-Tower-Banner-05.jpg?id=7476) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}"][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text] Kripke Tower Renovation [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] The Jewish Theological Seminary | New York, NY [/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_width="grid" css=".vc_custom_1732050781404{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}"][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text el_class=".inner_firm_page_2nd_last_section_text_code" css=".vc_custom_1750362074099{margin-right: 50px !important;margin-left: 50px !important;}"] Founded in 1886, The Jewish Theological Seminary of America is the premier center for the academic study of Judaism in North America. Located on Manhattan's Morningside Heights, the Seminary's existing facilities, built in 1929, were no longer adequately meeting students' needs. JLGA was retained to assess the school's current conditions and develop a master plan to address its immediate and long-term goals. The master plan identified the renovation of the entrance tower, which was destroyed by a fire in 1966, as Phase I, thereby recapturing space to meet the Seminary's immediate need for additional classrooms, lecture halls, faculty/administrative offices and computer facilities. Reconstructing the tower provided an opportunity to mend the fabric of the campus by joining the two adjacent wings to the tower in a way that had not been possible before. New floors were built within the shell of the old tower to accommodate new administrative offices, meeting rooms, computer center, and a language lab that extends into the attic of an adjacent building. Throughout, endeavored to connect each program element to the campus so that new classrooms, administrative offices and meeting rooms would be conveniently located near similar existing areas. After more than three decades, the Seminary has regained the use of its tower as a state-of-the-art educational facility equipped with Internet access, distance learning, and video-conferencing. Renamed The Kripke Tower, the Seminary has opened a new front door to its campus. [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height="64px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_width="grid"][vc_column width="1/6"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_column_text] Location: New York, NY Completion: 2001 Size: 45,000 sq. ft. Client: The Jewish Theological Seminary [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height="64px"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Related [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height="64px"][vc_row_inner content_width="grid"][vc_column_inner][edgtf_portfolio_list image_size="full" show_load_more="no" order_by="title" order="DESC" category="education" number="3" columns="3" filter="yes" filter_order_by="name"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]...

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School

by Baron Baumeister

June 23, 2020

[vc_row el_class="project-banner-section" css=".vc_custom_1751313127236{margin-top: -120px !important;padding-top: 280px !important;padding-bottom: 230px !important;background-image: url(https://jlgordon.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/HSPA-Banner-01.jpg?id=7468) !important;}"][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text] Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] NYC School Construction Authority | New York, NY [/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_width="grid" css=".vc_custom_1732050781404{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}"][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text el_class=".inner_firm_page_2nd_last_section_text_code" css=".vc_custom_1750868375033{margin-right: 50px !important;margin-left: 50px !important;}"] The Former High School for the Performing Arts, a landmarked building built in 1893, received national recognition through the popular movie “Fame.” JLGA led the complex renovation of the Romanesque Revival-style school designed by C.B.J. Snyder, which included the complete rehabilitation of the building’s interiors to create new classrooms, a library, a multi-purpose gym and a 250-seat theater. JLGA also restored the landmarked façade, reconstructed the fire-damaged roof, and constructed a new elevator/stair core to meet current safety codes. After the renovation, the school was renamed the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School. The challenge posed by introducing a modern state-of-the-art theater into a 100-year-old building resulted in a unique space, which will enhance the building's long relationship with the performing arts. The theater was created within the existing building by reconstructing the lower floors of the western wing. The ground floor was completely removed and replaced by a raked floor configuration stepped to the stage. The four columns within the space were removed and replaced with several major steel girders, which transfer the load from the floor above to new columns at the perimeter walls. The curved seating arrangement orients the viewer towards the proscenium area, providing excellent sightlines. The JKO school's new theater is an exciting space for both the students and the public and a welcome addition to the family of theaters in the Times Square Area. The historic restoration of the Former High School for the Performing Arts received an Award of Excellence from the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission and a Historic Educational Building Award from the Preservation League of New York State. [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text] [/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1750265986749{margin-right: 50px !important;margin-left: 50px...

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