![\"Wood](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2-300x169.jpg\")
Wood environments offer a number of physiological benefits to occupants, such as a reduction in stress levels and an increase in focus.<\/p>\n\t\t\tThe new building\u2019s brick fa\u00e7ade matches the diverse masonry palette found in the campus\u2019 existing historical buildings. | Photo Credit (all): Albert Verecka<\/p>\n
By Tom Rogers and Jabin Pu<\/p>\n
Nestled in a 1.7-acre mid-block site between Joralemon and Livingston streets in Brooklyn Heights\u2019 Historic District, The Packer Collegiate Institute is an independent K-12 private school in Brooklyn, N.Y., that has served students since 1845. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Wood environments offer a number of physiological benefits to occupants, such as a reduction in stress levels and an increase in focus.<\/p>\n
Packer\u2019s\u00a0diverse community of learners benefits\u00a0from transformative learning experiences that foster intellectual development and social-emotional growth.\u00a0To be able to best provide an enhanced learning environment, operational efficiency, and\u00a0enriched programming for staff and a growing student body,\u00a0Packer embarked on a 25,000-square-foot, four-story\u00a0expansion\u00a0that would add\u00a0classrooms and breakout spaces for grades\u00a01-4, as well as administrative offices.\u00a0The project\u00a0is\u00a0unique in that it\u00a0is\u00a0the first\u00a0K-12 building\u00a0in New York City to use mass timber construction materials.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A challenge for many urban schools is availability of space. As the demand for schools to expand in New York City increases, educational institutions that are looking to upgrade facilities and increase their footprints are often faced with difficult realities \u2014 zoning laws may prevent or limit upward expansion, or space might not be available for purchase or renovation directly adjacent to existing school buildings. This can lead to disjointed layouts and disruptive paths.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-300x169.jpg\")
The project is unique in that it is the first K-12 building in New York City to use mass timber construction materials.<\/p>\n
The design team, led by architecture firm WXY, found a solution in the reimagination of an existing space: Garden House \u2014 a four-story, 8,200-square-foot landmarked townhouse situated on the campus\u2019 south edge that had served various purposes over the years \u2013 and a large, existing courtyard and play area that had not been renovated for a number of years. A full renovation of the townhouse would serve as a connection to a new, 17,250-square-foot, four-story addition to Garden House. This solution also created a seamless and climate-controlled pathway from one end of the Packer campus to the other.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The project challenges the status quo when it comes to design. The building\u2019s most notable feature is its mass-timber construction. Its main structural system is comprised of cross-laminated (CLT) and glulam (glue-laminated) timber made from sustainably sourced wood \u2014 spruce, pine, and fir \u2014 sourced from northern Ontario. Wood environments offer a number of physiological benefits to occupants, such as a reduction in stress levels and an increase in focus.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Archstone Builders served as the project\u2019s general contractor, working with WXY\u00a0Architecture + Urban Design, structural engineer\u00a0TYLin Group, and the rest of the team to deliver\u00a0the project in time for the 2025 academic year.\u00a0Creative design and construction and a deep understanding of local building laws and ordinances allow project teams to advise schools on the best next steps to create a unified campus.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Packer had previously carried out several improvement and expansion projects; prior to the Garden House expansion, the school was comprised of six interconnected buildings. Its location in a historic district makes renovations tricky \u2014 the project team needed to work closely with NYC\u2019s Landmarks Preservation Commission to ensure all materials were compliant with guidelines for the district.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Untitled-design-29-240x300.png\")
The design team, led by architecture firm WXY reimagined the existing Garden House \u2014 a four-story, 8,200-square-foot landmarked townhouse situated on the campus\u2019 south edge that had served various purposes over the years.<\/p>\n
Packer, like many educational institutions, wanted its new building to have certain sustainable elements to ensure the wellness of occupants and contribute to a responsible carbon footprint. The roof of the new four-story addition has two expansive green spaces that help reduce the\u00a0building\u2019s stormwater\u00a0runoff and helps to enhance the energy efficiency of the envelope. Packer\u2019s newest building fully\u00a0operates\u00a0on electricity to support a transition from reliance on fossil fuels.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The new building\u2019s brick fa\u00e7ade matches the diverse masonry palette found in the campus\u2019 existing historical buildings. The bricks were made from 100% recycled clay content that was sourced from 30% post-consumer waste and 70% manufacturing waste. The exterior of the new building also features bird frit glazing,\u00a0which\u00a0offers natural daylight and direct views onto the new garden.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
During construction \u2013 which started in summer 2023 \u2014 the Packer school was fully in use by students and staff, which presented several challenges. The courtyard project\u2014 designed by Starr Whitehouse \u2014 was carried out in several phases; the new basketball court was delivered as soon as possible so the students could have access to clear outdoor space. As certain portions of the exterior were completed and handed back over to the school, the team also had to reroute egress paths out of the existing buildings. \u00a0<\/p>\n
The construction of the new building in the existing courtyard led to several upgrades to Packer\u2019s exterior space, which was fully demolished and redesigned to include a new playground, removal and relocation of existing trees, an extension of the existing patio entryway, new pavement, and new plantings.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The new courtyard uses permeable surfaces to ensure better water management.\u00a0Nearly 90 percent\u00a0of the site\u2019s 40 new trees, 179 shrubs, and more than 1,000 perennials and grasses are regionally native or climate resilient. These plantings complement the relocated mature trees and improve the\u00a0air\u00a0and water quality of the site.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The\u00a0current direction in educational facilities focuses\u00a0on engaging\u00a0and\u00a0active spaces that encourage\u00a0learning\u00a0both\u00a0through the\u00a0design and setting of a building. Packer\u2019s new\u00a0building excels\u00a0on all fronts\u00a0while creating a unique learning space for years to come.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tom\u00a0Rogers is a\u00a0Project\u00a0Manager at Archstone Builders.\u00a0Tom has\u00a0a\u00a0Master\u2019s\u00a0Degree in Civil Engineering with Architecture\u00a0and\u00a0has more than\u00a015 years\u00a0of experience in the education construction sector\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jabin Pu is a project manager at Archstone Builders.\u00a0Jabin has a Bachelor\u2019s Degree in Civil Engineering and is a certified NYS Engineer in Training with more than 5 years of experience in the education construction sector.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The new building\u2019s brick fa\u00e7ade matches the diverse masonry palette found in the campus\u2019 existing historical buildings. |…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":309351,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[117035,98,100,99,117036,54014,9,24,63,117037,117038,117039],"class_list":["post-309350","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-brooklyn","tag-archstone-builders","tag-brooklyn","tag-brooklyn-headlines","tag-brooklyn-news","tag-jabin-pu","tag-mass-timber","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-nyc","tag-packer-collegiate","tag-tom-rogers","tag-wxy-architecture-urban-design"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/309350","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=309350"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/309350\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/309351"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=309350"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=309350"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=309350"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}