Blind Brook Schools, Rye Brook, NY

The Ridge Street Elementary School’s new two-story, 40,000-square-foot expansion provides a variety of spaces designed to support interactive learning, flexible curricula, and diverse group sizes. The existing building and the new wing are connected through a new main entrance, lobby, and corridor, creating a clear and welcoming point of arrival. The expansion includes a new cafetorium—a hybrid cafeteria and auditorium with retractable seating—along with a fully modernized kitchen. Kindergarten and first-grade classrooms are paired with dedicated breakout spaces for one-on-one instruction and small-group collaboration. New art and music rooms, as well as a maker space, further enrich the learning environment. The cafetorium will serve both daily dining needs and larger school-wide events, giving the school a dedicated venue for assemblies and community gatherings.

The high school’s new state-of-the-art fabrication lab supports an advanced STEAM curriculum already in place. Its iconic form, visible from the school playground and surrounding areas, serves as a constant reminder to students of the innovative programs and technologies housed within. North-facing clerestory windows bring in abundant natural light throughout the day, enhancing the learning environment. Exposed steel framing highlights the building’s engineering and design principles. The lab is equipped with advanced CNC machines, 3D printers, scanners, and other specialized tools that support hands-on learning for this high-ranking school district’s STEAM program.
George K George with KH Architects