For the NYC School Construction Authority, dD+P designed a new 44,605 SF, 216 student capacity PS 256Q school building serving students from Pre-K to 5th grade, built next to the school’s original location in Far Rockaway, Queens.
The upgraded building was designed in response to the damage of Superstorm Sandy. This new facility will adhere to FEMA flood standards and offer 4 floors of areas for students and staff, including classrooms, a library, cafeteria, and administrative spaces.
The school has a large population of students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, prompting the implementation of specialized design strategies including careful color coding and wayfinding to balance the range of hyper and hyposensitivity experienced by disabled students, and the integration of double handrails, sensory equipment, and flexible furniture to accommodate all teaching needs and promote dynamic ways of learning.
