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The Calhoun School

A Green School Building in New York, NY.

  • Developed after a comprehensive master plan and feasibility study, the architect’s design for this prestigious School on Manhattan’s Upper West Side adds four stories and a mezzanine level to the existing building and fills in the building footprint. The design, which results in an additional 30,500 square feet of space, resolves the formal and programmatic challenges entailed in expanding vertically and horizontally to the 1973 concrete and travertine building. The expanded school contains a two-story performing arts center, with a 234-seat black box theatre as the centerpiece. Surrounded by rehearsal spaces, set design shop, and music instructional spaces, the three-quarter round theatre provides flexible performance space for the arts department and specialized teaching space for all the arts. The 5,200 square foot gym is located on the top floor of the addition, with clearstory windows creating a warm and welcoming place for recreation. The building is topped with a green roof. The School’s green roof transformed a sterile roofing surface into a safe, multi-purpose oasis of fresh air and greenery for students, faculty, and community at large, and has inspired a broad range of curricular applications. The school remained in operation throughout construction.
  • Open House will run from 10am-12pm
  • The Calhoun School is located on the SW corner of West End Avenue and 81st Street. Nearest subway stops for the 1/9 are at 79th & Broadway, and 86th & Broadway. Crosstown buses stop at the same two corners.
  • Construction year
  • 2005
  • Size in sq. ft.
  • 86000
  • No. floors
  • 9
  • Energy Efficiency Features
  • Eco-friendly Green Roof Learning Center - The Green Roof provides insulation to reduce heating and cooling needs; it helps filter the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and giving off oxygen; and it provides a food source for wildlife.
  • Water Conservation Features
  • The Green Roof reduces storm water runoff by 40 percent (an average of almost 26,000 gallons of water every year)
  • Window brand
  • Kawneer and Zimcor
  • Type of building (home, school, commercial, etc.)
  • school
  • Designer
  • FXFowle
  • Builder
  • Sciame
  • Construction or renovation cost
  • $23,500,000