One World School and Community Center

The design for this Spanish-immersion school is shaped by its Brooklyn site. The building preserves existing mature trees, occupying only the area outside their driplines. “Connecting slices” form around them to bring light into the building, while creating visual connection between classrooms.The building’s footprint was reduced to provide maximum area for outdoor activities. Natural playgrounds diversify the student’s experience—concentrated sensory exploration under the trees and gross motor activities at the rear yard. A rooftop greenhouse offers space for “growing in community.” In this learning lab, students and visitors can engage with local, sustainable food production.Inside, bright, interconnected spaces feature natural materials. A series of “activation elements” foster a sense of belonging and dovetail with the school’s core values of curiosity, openness, stewardship, imagination, and collaboration. Colors, lighting, materials, wayfinding, and technology are designed for neurodiversity, ensuring that everyone, regardless of neurological profile, is set up for success.