Perspective NY Special Green Issue 2009 ARAGON CONSTRUCTION TEAMS UP WITH JRS ARCHITECTS TO CREATE NEW GREEN SCHOOL AT COLUMBUS PARK

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UPPER WEST SIDE'S MANDELL SCHOOL IS set to expand into a new state-of-the art facility at 795 Columbus Avenue a 15 story apartment building that is part of Columbus Square, a retail and residential community currently under development between 97th and 1Oath Streets. Aragon Construction, together with JRS Architect, P.C., has been tapped to lead the 50,000 SF build-out. The school will comprise the building's entire second floor and half of both the first floor and cellar.

"It is a once-and-a-lifetime-opportunity to build a school from a clean shell," stated Gabriella Rowe, Mandell's Head of School. "We have the benefit of designing each classroom around the curriculum, as well as the flexibility to incorporate new technologies throughout the entire school."

Currently with three locations on West 94th, 95th and 96th Streets, the Mandell School can accommodate a total of 300 children, from a Two's program up to the 2nd grade. When the new facility is complete, total capacity will grow to 650 and Rowe will be able to achieve her vision of matriculating children to the 8th grade.

Numerous sustainable materials are being utilized in construction and in the long term Mandell School hopes to be LEED certified. The school will have rubber flooring, which is comprised of tire rubber and other recycled waste materials. Also, all classrooms will have high-efficiency lighting, using digital photo sensors and dimmers that comply with the Daylight Harvesting requirement. "And students will be able to enjoy a living wall, a wall almost completely covered in vegetation, literally a vertical garden," notes Rowe, in the sub-level cafeteria.

As well as renovating the cellar, first and second floors, Aragon will be building out an 8,000- SF outdoor terrace for the children. A modular design is being employed that will allow the school to create a green roof garden filled with annuals and perennials, a planting garden and a poetry reading space.

Aragon, with JRS Architect, P.C., has been contracted to build a 10,000 SF learning center for Mandell in another Columbus Square residential building nearby. The center will have an early childhood library and a media learning station where students will be able to stream videos and become familiar with online tools. Occupying the entire second floor and filled with stacks, carrels and silent study areas, it will serve children from the three's program up to the 8th grade.

Aragon is scheduled to begin work on the school and learning center in March of 2010, when construction is complete on the two buildings. Columbus Square is being developed by the Chetrit Group and comprises three contiguous city blocks. 795 Columbus Avenue is over 320,000 SF.