Little Red Elisabeth Irwin

LITTLE RED ELISABETH IRWIN

Andrew Bartle Architects

Little Red Elisabeth Irwin
©Brad Farwell

COST ESTIMATING
Mcquilkin Associates

SUBMITTING ARCHITECT
Andrew Bartle

CODE CONSULTANT
Municipal Expediting

GRAPHICS
Emphas

MANUFACTURERS
Circle Redmont

VERTICAL TRANSPORTATION
Van Deusen & Associates

CIVIL/SITE
Pillori Associates

LIGHTING
Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design

CONTRACTOR
Ibex Construction Company

ACOUSTICAL
Lally Acoustical Consulting

THEATER
Fisher Dachs Associates

GEOTECHNICAL
Pillori Associates

STRUCTURAL
Silman Structural Engineers

MEP
Thomas Polise Consulting Engineers

IT-AV
Kp Johnson & Associates

EXPEDITING
Municipal Expediting

FIRE PROTECTION
Thomas Polise Consulting Engineers

EXPEDITING/CODE CONSULTING
Municipal Expediting

OWNER REPRESENTATIVE
Wg Project Management

SPECIFICATIONS
Robert Schwartz & Associates

ABA STUDIO TEA
John Thurman, Ken Lake, Joanne Graney, Karl Jensen, Mark Barone, Sean Auyeung, Erin Ross, Andrew Bartle

AREA
22000ft²

YEAR
2014

LOCATION
New York, United States

CATEGORY
Schools

Text description provided by architect.

In this top-to-bottom transformation, Little Red Elisabeth Irwin (LREI), one of New York City’s leading progressive private schools, doubled its size to offer students a much greater range of programs and updated its image as a vibrant, 21st century center for learning.

Little Red Elisabeth Irwin
© Durston Saylor Photography
Little Red Elisabeth Irwin
© Durston Saylor Photography
Little Red Elisabeth Irwin
© Durston Saylor Photography

The original 1912 school facility needed a dramatic overhaul to keep pace with changes in teaching and learning, as well as new technology, and to house the projected enrollment.

It became apparent that the school had to take bold steps to hold its own.

This renovation and 22,000-square-foot addition reoriented LREI from an inward centered institution to one focused outward.

Little Red Elisabeth Irwin
© Durston Saylor Photography
Little Red Elisabeth Irwin
© Durston Saylor Photography

The resulting campus-like setting, which includes three outdoor courtyards, lets students anticipate the university life most will move on to.

Its energized interior spaces promote a sense of community while also providing private places for individual quiet time and private conversations.

Little Red Elisabeth Irwin
© Durston Saylor Photography
Little Red Elisabeth Irwin
© Durston Saylor Photography
Little Red Elisabeth Irwin
© Durston Saylor Photography

Because LREI is in a landmarked district, all changes occurred without altering the buildings’ street facades.

Intended as a single project, once the economy faltered in 2008 the work was spread over four phases with a different financing and fundraising strategy.

The project called for community involvement, legal engagement and environmental study, and each phase happened with minimal disruption to the school’s academic calendar.

Little Red Elisabeth Irwin
© Durston Saylor Photography
Little Red Elisabeth Irwin
© Durston Saylor Photography
Little Red Elisabeth Irwin
© Durston Saylor Photography

The scheme introduced separate ‘pavilions’ devoted to science, the arts, and humanities.

Each provide a host of new learning spaces including traditional classrooms, seminar rooms, science labs, an art studio, 3D art space, a media lab, and a music classroom with additional private practice rooms.

There is also a student lounge, improved student services, an expanded auditorium and a larger cafeteria. The project introduced full ADA accessibility and provided a facelift for the main lobby, signaling the school’s revitalized identity upon entrance.

Little Red Elisabeth Irwin
© Durston Saylor Photography


Little Red Elisabeth Irwin
© Durston Saylor Photography
Little Red Elisabeth Irwin
© Durston Saylor Photography


Little Red Elisabeth Irwin
Floor Plan


Little Red Elisabeth Irwin
Elevation
Little Red Elisabeth Irwin
Detail


Little Red Elisabeth Irwin
Section
Little Red Elisabeth Irwin
Section