The PS 340 project consisted of a conversion of the Foundling Hospital building in Manhattan into a 518-student pre-k – 5th grade school. The lower 6 floors (115,700 square feet) of the 14-story high-rise were transformed from a hospital into a new school.

The street façade was modified to incorporate new entry elements and large glass surfaces, along the school to have an identifiable presence. The ground floor has active programming that includes the lobby, cafeteria, and dance studio. At the rear interior court, a new window wall introduces south light into the school penetrating the interior corridor through an open stair, which serves as the main circulation element connecting all levels.

This very complex project includes 21 new classrooms, specialized instruction for art, music, science, and dance, early childhood classrooms with a rooftop play area, and a double-height library. A large multi-purpose room and below-grade auditorium complete the program. The school was fit with the latest technology and all requirements for modern classrooms including lighting systems, heating and air conditioning systems, interactive light board systems, security systems, and video surveillance systems. PS340 also features provide a D75 program for severely autistic children.

The focal point of the building is the entrance lobby and staircase, both looking out ion 6th Avenue and 17th Street in Chelsea through large glass windows. The stairway’s careful construction offers both function and aesthetic as it connects the entire height of the school. Through the glass front windows, a mural by Odili Donald Odita can be seen from the street. The stairway features elements of curved terrazzo.

The greatest challenge during construction was being aware and considerate of the neighbors who occupied the floors above, setting the PS 340 project apart from typical school projects since the elementary school shares the building with the hospital above.