Lycée Français de New York

0033 Lycee Hero1

Lycée Français de New York

In its organization, façade articulation and materials palette, the design of the Lycée Français de New York creates a dynamic learning environment, embodies the rigor and order of the school’s French pedagogy, and revitalizes its context, conceptually linking it to the scale, texture and dimensional rhythm of the original residential neighborhood.

0033 Lycee Hero
0033 Lycee Facade Sketch
0033 Lycee Hero1
0033 Lycee Organization
Lycee Section Ns Program

Located on a through-block site, two five-story structures are connected by three full-lot floors and a north-south bridge at the second level.  Shared program spaces such as libraries, cafeteria, auditorium and gymnasia unify the school at the three lower levels. The school is organized around a central landscaped rooftop courtyard accessible to both upper and lower schools.

0033 Lycee Hero3

The design process was an iterative one that thrived on the intersection of our individual and collaborative explorations: of personal experiences in France, individual interpretations of French culture and education, the rich tradition of innovation and invention in French architecture and a shared commitment to the creation of a building expressive of the mission and aspirations of the school.

Susan T. Rodriguez, Design Partner

Contrasting materials respond to the building’s north/south orientation, define the exterior identity of the school and express different aspects of the school’s history and mission. South façades are pre-cast concrete, and north façades are primarily a translucent channel glass system. A framework of horizontal channels and vertical column enclosures unifies the overall design.

0033 Lycee Facade
0033 Lycee Cafe2
0033 Lycee Classroom
0033 Lycee Art Room

The naturally-lit interior spaces of the new Lycée reflect the school’s mission to create a dynamic environment for learning. The openness and transparency between levels and adjacent spaces reinforce a sense of community and promote interaction between students, teachers and staff. The typical classroom corridor layout forms a loop on each floor, encapsulating the core and support spaces at the center and providing access to classrooms along the perimeter.

0033 Lycee Detail4
0033 Lycee Detail
0033 Lycee Aud1

Additional space was created below grade by excavating thirty feet into the bedrock to provide for large collective spaces such as the auditorium and gymnasium. 

0033 Lycee Roof1
0033 Lycee Rooftop

Details

Year
2003
Location
New York, NY
Size
158,000 GSF
Program
Classrooms, Library, Cafeteria, Auditorium, Green Roof

Team

Design Partners
Susan T. Rodriguez, James S. Polshek, 1930-2022
Management Partner
Joseph Fleischer
Project Manager
Joanne Sliker
Senior Technical Director
James Sinks
Project Architect
Chris Andreacola
Design Team
Marlon Aranda, Deborah Campbell, Steven Caputo, Steven Chang, Michael Chen, Stephen PD Chu, Lucy Ciletti, Andrew Comfort, Robert Condon, Frank Desantis, Amanda Faye, Rafael Gavilanes, Benjamin Gilmartin, Sarah Jefferys, Michael Johnston, Steven Joyce, Yama Karim, James Ke, Dean Kim, Janny Kim, Lauren Kleinberg, Chris Koon, Chung Kuo, Tara Leibenhaut-Tyre, Jane Lin, Marianne Madigan, Andrea Mason, Juan Matiz, Molly McGowan, Sherrill Moore, Edgar Papazian, Harry Park, Charmian Place, Michael Regan, James Rhee, Kevin Rice, William Rosebro, Mary Rowe, Jill Sicinski, Rainier Simoneaux, James Sinks, Oliver Sippl, David Stuart, Daniel Stube, Margaret Tyrpa, David Wallance, Yvonne Yang, Robert Young, John Zimmer

Awards

  • 2018
  • 2008
    • Citation, National School Boards Association Awards, 2008
  • 2004
    • Honor Award, AIA/New York State, 2004
  • 2003
    • Excellence in Design Award, Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts, 2003

Press

  • 2011
    • R. Thomas Hille. Modern School - A Century of Design for Education (John Wiley & Sons, 1/2011)
  • 2008
    • Gordon, Amanda. "Lycee Francais Goes 'Vert,' Celebrating Environmental Conservation" (The New York Sun, 2/4/2008)
  • 2004
    • Lubell, Sam. "Polshek Partnership maintains an old school's elegance while delivering space, light and unity to its new building" (Architectural Record, 3/2004)
  • 2003
    • Kellogg, Craig. "Why Settle for Concrete When You Can Have a Jardin?" (The New York Times, 12/11/2003)
    • Kinetz, Erika. "In Search of French Soul: A School With La Difference" (The New York Times, 10/26/2003)
    • "European Façade for a French School in New York City" (School Construction News, 10/2003)
    • Feldman, Jason. "Lycee Francais Unified Under one Roof" (New York Construction News, 6/2003)
    • Gross, Jane. "Easing the Wait for Early College Admissions" (The New York Times, 12/11/2003)
  • 2002
    • Brozan, Nadine. "Postings: A Design Inspired by Descartes" (The New York Times, 12/15/2002)

Consultants

Structural
WSP Group
MEP
Thomas Polise Consulting Engineer, P.C.
Geotechnical
Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc.
Landscape
Judith Heintz Landscape Architecture
Lighting
Brandston Partnership, Inc.
Graphics
Poulin + Morris, Inc.
Acoustics/AV/Telecommunications/Data
Shen Milsom & Wilke
Theater
Harvey Marshall Berling Associates
Security
Ducibella Venter & Santore
Cost Estimating
Wolf & Company, P.C.
Curtainwall
Gordon H. Smith Corporation
Exterior Envelope
James R. Gainfort Consulting Architects, P.C.
Specifications
Construction Specifications, Inc.
Code/Life Safety
Jerome S. Gillman Consulting Architect, P.C.
Food Service
Romano Gatland
Elevator
Iros Elevator Design Services, Inc.
Traffic/Parking
Eng-Wong, Taub & Associates
Furniture
Trish Martin Associates, Inc.
Surveying
Harwood Surveying, P.C.
General Contractor
Sciame Construction, LLC
Photography
Richard Barnes, Jeff Goldberg/Esto, Aislinn Weidele/Ennead Architects