Located in the historic South Street Seaport district of Lower Manhattan, the site for the new PK-5 school consisted of an operational Post Office on a 17,800sf lot. Directly adjacent to the site exists some of the oldest architecture in Manhattan. Given the site's significance and its complex zoning, the design intent was to create a building sensitive to its surroundings while also maximizing the potential number of students. An additional project requirement was to utilize the existing concrete slab structural system. Multiple test-fit options were investigated, with the eventual outcome being a six-story school accommodating 712 students. The program, predetermined by the NYC School Construction Authority, required gyms, classrooms, and a 3,000sf playground. The final design features student dining on the first floor, classrooms with natural daylight, and a rooftop playground.