A vertical campus, built on industry.
A vertical campus, built on industry.
A vertical campus, built on industry.
Elmhurst Educational Campus
Elmhurst Educational Campus
Elmhurst Educational Campus
Queens, NY
Queens, NY
Queens, NY
Durkee Spice warehouse prior to rehabilitation.
Durkee Spice warehouse prior to rehabilitation.
SBLM transformed a 200,000-square-foot industrial building along the Queens rail lines into a vibrant educational campus housing three distinct high schools. Once defined by heavy load-bearing columns and vast production floors, the structure was reimagined to support flexible learning environments that embrace its industrial past.
SBLM transformed a 200,000-square-foot industrial building along the Queens rail lines into a vibrant educational campus housing three distinct high schools. Once defined by heavy load-bearing columns and vast production floors, the structure was reimagined to support flexible learning environments that embrace its industrial past.
The planning skillfully worked around the building’s tight column grid, carving out dynamic classrooms and shared commons that encourage collaboration while preserving spatial rhythm. Historic ribbon windows were meticulously restored and modernized to flood interiors with daylight, reasserting the building’s horizontal clarity and connection to the city beyond.
The planning skillfully worked around the building’s tight column grid, carving out dynamic classrooms and shared commons that encourage collaboration while preserving spatial rhythm. Historic ribbon windows were meticulously restored and modernized to flood interiors with daylight, reasserting the building’s horizontal clarity and connection to the city beyond.
“By revealing the strength and honesty of its industrial bones, the design transforms a place of making into a place of learning—where the past’s productivity inspires the future’s potential.”
“By revealing the strength and honesty of its industrial bones, the design transforms a place of making into a place of learning—where the past’s productivity inspires the future’s potential.”
“By revealing the strength and honesty of its industrial bones, the design transforms a place of making into a place of learning—where the past’s productivity inspires the future’s potential.”
Each school gained a unique interior identity, fostering belonging within a unified campus community. Throughout, the design celebrates the site’s history—exposed structure, raw materials, and honest details tell its industrial story—culminating in the play yard, where concentric rings etched into the landscape honor the lost chimney that once stood as the heart of the complex.
Each school gained a unique interior identity, fostering belonging within a unified campus community. Throughout, the design celebrates the site’s history—exposed structure, raw materials, and honest details tell its industrial story—culminating in the play yard, where concentric rings etched into the landscape honor the lost chimney that once stood as the heart of the complex.
