Located on a 1.8‑acre site in Brooklyn’s Brighton Beach neighborhood, P.S. 253K – the Magnet School of Multicultural Humanities – serves pre‑kindergarten through fifth‑grade students in one of New York City’s most diverse communities. To expand learning opportunities and make the school more welcoming for young learners, the New York City School Construction Authority (NYCSCA) engaged STV to deliver full architectural and engineering design services for a $54 million expansion. The project introduces a 55,894‑square‑foot addition that increases capacity by nearly 400 seats and brings new, modern spaces to support creativity, collaboration and academic growth.
What challenges did STV address?
The school needed significantly more instructional space as enrollment and program needs grew. The project required integrating a large expansion into a compact urban site, upgrading the historic 1936 building and addressing complex flood‑zone constraints given the site’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. Expanding educational offerings, including STEM, arts and music, required flexible spaces that align with NYCSCA standards while enhancing safety, accessibility and sustainability.
What solutions did STV deliver?
STV’s design introduces 14 classrooms and six specialty teaching spaces, including STEM, art and music rooms, along with a 250‑seat cafeteria supported by a full commercial kitchen. A two‑story lobby with a monumental staircase creates a bright, inviting new entrance, highlighted by a custom glass artwork by Julia Whitney Barnes commissioned through NYCSCA’s Public Art for Public Schools. The addition also features a new landscaped outdoor play area and a suite of sustainable design measures, including highly insulated exterior walls, efficient mechanical systems, rooftop solar panels and strategic elevation and equipment placement for flood protection. Renovations to the existing school improve accessibility and reconfigure interior spaces as part of a second phase.
How does this project benefit the community?
With its uplifting interiors, abundant natural light and expanded program spaces, the addition enhances learning opportunities for nearly 400 new students and strengthens the school as a community hub. Outdoor play areas support physical activity, while accessible design and modernized infrastructure create a safe, inclusive and resilient environment. The project also supports long‑term sustainability and climate resilience in a coastal neighborhood.
Key Stats and Accolades
- 55,894‑sf, four‑story addition
- 391 additional student seats
- 14 classrooms and 6 specialty spaces (STEM, art, music)
- 250‑seat cafeteria with full commercial kitchen
- Rooftop solar panels and high‑performance envelope
- Addition elevated ~10 feet with mechanical systems above flood elevation
- Custom glass artwork by Julia Whitney Barnes
- ADA upgrades and renovations to the 1936 building
Glass artwork:
Julia Whitney Barnes
PS 253 Addition, Brooklyn
Collection of the NYC Department of Education, Public Art for Public Schools
