X443 Pre-K

Client: NYC SCA
Location: Bronx, NY

As part of NYC’s Pre-K for All program, this new pre-kindergarten school located within the Bronx on Webster Avenue, occupies the entire second level of an existing building that was previously used as a parking garage.

The location of classrooms was of paramount importance as the client wanted to fit eleven (11) classrooms, along with supporting spaces, within in a design restrictive footprint. Locating the eleven (11) classrooms, each with there own Toilet Room, along the perimeter of the footprint allows for sufficient natural lighting to be brought in, however, the classrooms that could not take advantage of the existing storefront along the perimeter walls were pushed towards the center of the space, where a series of skylights and clerestories are utilized for natural lighting. The classrooms have an average size of 900 sf, allowing for 18 children in each making the total student capacity 198.

The only first floor space is the Lobby that has an interior ADA compliant ramp for the slight elevation change from grade level, a security desk, and an elevator. On the second floor, a secondary Lobby exists outside the stair and elevator that leads into an eight foot wide, well-lit corridor wrapping around the centrally located rooms creating a doughnut shape. Three classrooms along with most of the school’s support spaces, i.e. the Principal’s Office, Parents Room, Staff Lounge, Conference Room and Administration space, are located at the center of the space to allow for most of the classrooms to be located at the perimeter of the building. A Warming Pantry and an Exercise Room are located at the back of the space as additional support rooms.

The largest technical challenges on this project were the improvements necessary to bring the building up to a new building code and accommodating the original location and access for building utilities. As the Occupancy Use Class changed from Business Use to Education, additional life safety measures were needed, including new stairs, new fireproofing at existing structure, security improvements, and several mechanical systems upgrades.

SERVICES

Architectural Design
Sustainable Design
Construction Admin
Project Entitlement
Documentation
Rendering
Interior Design
Code Analysis Construction
Administration Construction
Documents Design
Development
3D Modeling
Preliminary Design
Programming
Schematic Design

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THOMAS P. MCHUGH

Principal

RA, AIA, NCARB

During his tenure at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and after earning his Bachelor of Architecture, Tom has spent close to Thirty Years in planning, design, construction and contract administration for a wide range of large and small-scale projects. He joined the company in early 1997 and as one of MMA’s Principals, he has been responsible for overseeing the growth and success of the educational design studio for the last two decades. His responsibilities include contract generation, establishing budgets for hard and soft costs, design consultant coordination, and overseeing construction administration and project close-out. Tom attributes his success to his attention to detail, and his ability to work effectively with all stakeholders.