2013 - 15

The Academy of the City Charter School is a tuition-free, community-based public charter school located in Long Island City, Queens, New York. This project renovated a former Catholic private school, leased by the Academy in order to fulfill its mission to provide free, quality education to a diverse student body. The framework for renovation was to convert the traditional layout into a 21st century learning space for students, teachers and administrators. The outdated administrative offices were expanded and enclosed in glass to establish transparency. Special Education and English Language Learner breakout rooms are built with glass corners to provide acoustical privacy with visual connections. Eliminating outmoded storage closets opened up classrooms for collaborative learning. Sustainable upgrades were made throughout to the electrical, plumbing and IT systems, including kitchen, bathroom, and art/science rooms. DesBrisay & Smith Architects was instrumental in organizing a volunteer painting event that included parents, students, community volunteers and our staff. Paint donated by Sherwin Williams in Woodside, Queens helped the project budget and the event was covered in the Queens Ledger.

Press:
queensledger.com "New charter school in Woodside prepares for fall semester" | 21 August 2013 PDF

Project team: Lloyd DesBrisay, Chad Smith, Michel Cardona, Esther Cheung, Katherine Donkersloot, Kyle Harrington, Jeremy Katich, Dimitri Kim, Keith Lindberg
Photo credit: Gustav Lillequist