City Kids Education Center

City Kids is an early childhood education center in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, created through the adaptive reuse of a former lumber warehouse beneath an existing residential tower. Six preschool classrooms are organized around a double-height central courtyard that serves as the social heart of the school—an indoor gathering space for children, teachers, and families. A large storefront window, pendant lighting, and interior glazing draw natural and borrowed light deep into the building, while a thickened architectural wall integrates reception, storage, and seating.

Classrooms are connected by shared sinks, bathrooms, and flexible openings that encourage collaboration while maintaining visual supervision. The upper level houses an after-school program with dedicated spaces for cooking, theater, STEM, art, and movement. Lockers and bleacher seating animate the courtyard, creating opportunities for gathering and play. Completed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the project incorporates enhanced ventilation, ultraviolet HVAC filtration, touchless systems, and operable windows to support a healthy learning environment.