Green Roof: PS 20 Arts + Letters Open Road

8/7/2019 Green Roof: PS 20 Arts + Letters Open Road

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The Green Roof Projectfor Arts & Letters and The Clinton Hill School/PS 20

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz

Office of the Brooklyn Borough President

Brooklyn Borough Hall

209 Joralemon Street

Brooklyn, NY 11201

Dear Brooklyn Borough President Markowitz,

We are incredibly excited to submit our Green Roof Project proposal, an exciting growth and adaptation from our recent proposal,

and our revised big idea! While we learned that a rooftop gymnasium is not possible, a Green Roof is, and provides everything that

a gymnasium would and more (with the exception of a covered space during inclement weather). While our proposed Green Roo

design offers the traditional gymnasium spaces for basketball, volleyball, and track, it offers much more, even in terms of sports. We

have incorporated a rock climbing wall and a handball court (two student favorites), as well as a dedicated fitness surface of

permanent rubber matting. A Green Roof for Arts & Letters and the Clinton Hill School provides a modern and ecologically friendly

health and fitness space, surrounded by the beauty of the natural world – beautiful blue sky and fresh air – as well as the beauty of

Fort Greene’s historic architecture, skyline, and trees.

In addition to sports and fitness areas, our proposed Green Roof would provide an amphitheater for performances, a greenhouse,

eating and gathering areas, as well as multiple Science stations. The curricular uses are endless, whether Health & Fitness, Science

Performing Arts, or gathering areas for Humanities discussions, Advisory classes, book clubs, and afterschool groups. In short, the

Green Roof would provide an incredibly large “swing space” – an expansive (and priceless) alternative space outside of the

traditional classroom used to maximize the number of students engaged in enriching, hands-on learning at any given time.

What follows is our design, born of the past weeks’ joint meetings, roof walk-throughs, design drafts and revisions, and feedback

sessions. Our current partner on the Community Plaza project, Paula Hewitt Amram of Open Road, is our collaborator on this design

as well. A professional in the field who has collaborated on multiple renowned NYC parks and roofs, Paula has developed oudetailed vision into a structurally sound design, a design aligned with the original engineering documents for our school building,

provided by Bryan McGinn's office. The link to our conceptual design is found here Green Roof Project - Sketchup File. It is a digita

3D model that can be imported directly into AutoCad. Together with our partner Open Road, we will be happy to continue working

with you on schematics, and then construction documents, throughout the scoping process.

Thank you for your genuine enthusiasm for our schools, and for taking the time to consider the Green Roof Project. We look

forward to hearing your feedback.

Respectfully,

Allison Gaines Pell Lena Barbera

Principal, The Urban Assembly Academy of Arts & Letters Interim Acting Principal, The Clinton Hill School/PS 20

At any hour, 4 or 5 entire classes of students could comfortably be utilizing the Green Roof, each

engaged in the different activities that the varied spaces allow. In essence, the Green Roof adds at least5 classrooms full of space to our shared school building, and technically adds even more. Not only is this

space desperately needed, but the Green Roof offers an incredibly exciting and energy efficient solution,

and one that inspires enhanced curriculum, “green” living and learning, and new big ideas! The Green

Roof Project is a tangible symbol of investing in our Brooklyn children and investing in public

education, and doing it whole-heartedly, sparing no expense. The Green Roof Project shows students

(and teachers and families) that beautiful, modern spaces are not reserved solely for the corporate

world to work and play within, but that our communities can also have them, and we deserve to.

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=3b72b504e7ac8581639a0fbb7541c389






Our Green Roof – a virtual walk-through

.

Upon opening the door and stepping out onto the Green Roof, you are immediately taken by a

stunning view of a vibrant, spacious, and truly “living” world, a hidden dimension of a historic

building, and an expansive space surrounded by the splendor of Fort Greene’s rich architecture

and skyline. Your first view finds vivid multi-use courts, with playful ground murals painted during

various community Saturdays. Behind the courts, sit a cluster of NYC’s classic chessboard eating

tables, situated in the left nook of the north wing, enveloped by raised gardens tended to by

students during Science class. Walk right, and you find yourself in the middle of an amphitheater,

reminiscent of those found in old city and suburban public parks, awaiting the eager voices of anelementary school play or a middle schooler’s first solo. As you begin your walk around the center

structure to explore the south side of the roof, you first pass a handball court, with water

fountains situated nearby, and then, adjacent, a miniature rock climbing wall for young adventure

seekers, with rubber safety matting underneath. Then, as you turn the last corner, the south side

of the Green Roof becomes visible - a spectacular expanse of green, the living grass field for sports,

play, picnics, and reading circles. Encircling the field is a colorful track, with artful markers for

quarter, half, and full miles. Beyond the field lays another table cluster surrounding a rubber

fitness surface for aerobics, dance, stretching, or play by small children, affording all ages a safe

and comfortable space for physical activities requiring floor contact and flexible support. To the

left, lives a luminous greenhouse with solar panels, making daily use of the generous sunlight

received on the building’s south end. Inside, plants at multiple stages flourish, under carefulwatch and care by various Science and Nutrition classes. Vegetables are even grown, and students

are excitedly learning to incorporate them in surprisingly delicious recipes during an afterschool

cooking apprenticeship. Outside of the greenhouse, there is a weather station and a birdhouse

area nearby, and on any given day, groups of students record data, take pictures, and form

hypotheses about tomorrow’s forecast, the setting sun, native birds, and when the new egg will

hatch. And all of this, the entire Green Roof, is enveloped in a perimeter of lush “vertical gardens”

crawling up the perimeter fence, surrounding the entire expanse in an upward urban jungle, just a

few inches in depth, but creating a world of green – with blue sky above.



Above: Principals Allison Pell and Lena Barbera in

center, with Paula Hewitt Amram of Open Road

(collaborating on Community Plaza project) and

students

Elements included in our Green Roof

Right: Students going “green” in the community

garden we are beginning by the schoolyard.

“GREEN” SPACES

Greenhouse with solar panels, with seating for a full class

(up to 32 students)

Vertical gardens on multiple inner walls as well as entire

perimeter of roof (crawling up perimeter chainlink fence)

Weather station

Composting bins

Bird house area

Trees

SPORTS AREAS

Playing field

Track surrounding playing field

Rubber mats for aerobics, dance, and play

Multi-purpose court (basketball half courts and volleyball)

Handball wall

Rock climbing wall with rubber matting below for safety

PERFORMANCE/EVENT AREA

Amphitheater stage

OTHER ELEMENTS

3 eating areas (with classic chess board tables)

At least 2 water fountains, 1 on each side of the roof, with 1

near eating nook by roof entry door (each water fountain

with two levels, one for adults, and a lower one for small

children)

Lighting for night use

Storage sheds/containers for equipment storage

Phone, connected to the school system so staff can call office, other

classrooms, etc. (possibly inside the entry area before you step out onto roof)

Trash cans (and trash removal plan)

The Green Roof Project would be an

incredible step in preserving the best

possible use of a charming, historic 1951

school building, known and loved by the

Fort Greene community for 60 years.

Especially in this complicated moment of

apprehension on one side, and hopeful

excitement on the other, this project would

symbolize a very real and concrete

dedication to providing a space for two

great schools to truly thrive. In addition, the

Green Roof would be an organic outdoor

extension to the current project you are

already generously funding, the Community

Plaza in our schoolyard.



Benefits of the Green Roof Project

Right: Our students learning about plant

varieties at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

The Green Roof Project provides:

A TANGIBLE INVESTMENT IN THE SUCCESS OF BOTH SCHOOLS

MORE SPACE

An entire floor of additional space for two schools sharing an old

building, and various alternative physical education spaces to

supplement our current (and old) small gym. We are both deeply committed to fostering continued partnership between

our schools, and facility upgrades to create a highly functioning campus is essential to the success of each of our schools, as

well as the extent to which we can creatively collaborate. Cramped, old facilities make day-to-day functioning (and space

sharing) much more challenging than is necessary, and an upgraded learning environment speaks volumes to children, and

faculty alike. The Green Roof, designed to truly meet the needs of our schools, would allow kids to learn, and faculty to

teach, with increased ease, focus, and possibly most importantly, inspiration.

A CURRICULUM RICH FACILITY

The Green Roof Project has many different areas – some devoted to specific activities,

others open for a variety of uses – with all spaces inspiring active, experiential learning.

Most obvious curriculum uses: Health & Fitness, Science (greenhouse, weather station,

bird house area, and gardens – teaching students to think “green”) and the Performing

Arts (amphitheater). Other areas serve as meeting and gathering areas for Humanities

discussions, Advisory classes, book clubs, and afterschool groups.

In addition, various areas serve as a beautiful and inspiring setting for large events

including graduations and student performance showcases as well as smaller, but equally

important events such as special faculty lunches, teacher meetings, and parent teacher

conferences.

MOMENTUM FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE COMMUNITY & CULTURAL COLLABORATIONS

The Green Roof not only provides much needed performance, sport, and

event spaces for our two schools, but it allows us to open our roof to creative

community collaborations, with area arts organizations, sports leagues, and

green organizations. This innovative space would propel our two schools’

joint mission to become a cultural focus point of Fort Greene, by having

creative spaces for new and larger collaborations between our schools and

the vibrant community around us.

EFFICIENT LEVERAGING OF FUNDING ALREADY ALLOCATED FOR ROOF

REPAIR

Current roof is deteriorating, and needs major repairs within the next one or

two years. With our proposed plan, some of this funding can be allocated to

the Green Roof Project instead.

EFFICIENT LEVERAGING OF PRIVATELY FUNDED ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

WORK BY OPEN ROAD



Shown here: Detail from our proposed Green Roof de

south end

AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY FLOOR OF OUR BUILDING

Ecological Benefits (from http://www.hydrotechusa.com/benefits.htm)

Mitigates Urban Heat Island: Green Roofs cool and humidify the

surrounding air creating a microclimate which has beneficial

effects within the immediate area.

Natural Habitat for Animals and Plants: Green Roofs create

biodiversity, encouraging wildlife, such as birds, butterflies and

insects, to remain within urban areas.

Reduction of Dust and Smog Levels: Vegetation helps to filter out dust and smog particles. Nitrates and other aeroso

contaminants are absorbed out of the air and rainfall and bound within the soil.

BUILDING BENEFITS AND COST EFFECTIVENESS (from http://www.hydrotechusa.com/benefits.htm)

Storm Water Retention: A Green Roof can typically reduce storm water run-off by 50 to 90% and minimize the impact on

existing sewer systems.

Additional Thermal Resistance: Green Roofs can improve the

thermal resistance of the roof assembly throughout the year

especially in summer months by helping to reduce cooling costs.

Reduced Noise Levels: Typical extensive Green Roofs reduce

reflective sound by up to 3 dB and improve sound insulation by

up to 8 dB.

Increased Life Expectancy of the Roof: Protects roof membrane

from climatic extremes and physical abuse, thereby greatly

increasing the life expectancy of the roof.



Shown here: Details from our proposed Green Roof design,

north end



Shown here: Detail from our proposed Green Roof design,center area, looking towards sound end



Lower Roof & Cafeteria – proposal note

Above: Current Gym

with falling /

deteriorating ceiling

tiles, low lighting, and

virtually no seating

Current State of Related Facilities

CAFETERIA Current cafeteria is too small, and this problem has been cited by parents and school leadership teams

consistently over the years. Lunchtime is already a logistical challenge in schools, and the small size exacerbates the noise

and challenges of getting many kids fed at once. The Green Roof would offer 3 alternative eating spaces, for both studen

groups and faculty groups.

GYMNASIUM Current gymnasium is considered a “half -size” gym, barely adequate for elementary schools and

inadequate for middle school activities. (This size issue has been noted frequently on websites and literature as a

“downside” of our schools.) Gym has no seating, other than 2 rows of single benches, and is barely utilized for schoo

exhibitions and other events due to its small size, lack of seating, poor lighting, and overall dreary environment. Currently

ceiling is being repaired due to recent deterioration. The Green Roof would provide an enormous and much friendlie

space to inspire health and fitness, and the vigor it requires!

If welcomed, and as mentioned by us briefly in earlier discussions, we would also submit an extension of this

proposal to include:

Construction on the lower, smaller roof of the building to incorporate it into the Green Roof Project

Construction inside of our building directly underneath that lower roof, removing a wall to expand the

Cafeteria into the small vestibule beside it, allowing space for 4 or 5 circle tables for additional studen

eating. The cafeteria is utilized heavily every day and every day afterschool as well. A larger and improved space

would greatly enhance all lunchtimes, all snacktimes (for afterschool kids), and all afterschool programs and schoo

and community events already utilizing the space.

Green Roof: PS 20 Arts + Letters Open Road

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