PS32K Addition, Samuel Mills Sprole School

Surrounded by the garden-fronted brownstones of Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, the Samuel Mills Sprole School (P.S. 32K) is a tight-knit community long recognized for its neuroinclusive education and strong family involvement. To retire outdated temporary classroom units (TCUs) and unify its growing student population, the 1950s-era H-shaped brick building underwent its first major renovation and addition. With input from the principal and families, and sensitivity to the school’s residential context and well-established identity, the new 3-story, 54,000-SF addition blends seamlessly with the existing building while enhancing its programmatic and spatial qualities. Extending the H-shaped plan’s central corridor eastward, the new wing mirrors the existing layout while introducing contemporary elements. Each corridor terminates in a luminous glass-block wall framing neighborhood views. Three artworks by Letha Wilson, commissioned through NYCDOE’s Public Art for Public Schools program, mark the junction between old and new. Matching brick integrates the addition with the original structure, while modern window detailing and projected brick accents lend it a distinct, expressive character. A new articulated entrance on Union Street features pleated granite panels and a spacious lobby designed to accommodate increased foot traffic. Boldly colored thresholds lead from the lobby into the library, main staircase, and cafeteria, with sweeping 180-degree views onto the playground, creating intuitive wayfinding for families. The daylit main stair connects to upper floors where Pre-K through 1st-grade classrooms are organized into color-coded “neighborhoods.” Above the cafeteria, an Early Childhood Center playground supports cooperative, child-directed play, while a reconfigured through-block playground offers flexible zones for gatherings, recreation, and hands-on gardening and composting education with a local nonprofit partner. The expansion follows the NYC School Construction Authority’s Green Schools Guide standards.