Preservation Merit Award - Historic Albany Foundation
The Philip J. Schuyler Achievement Academy is one of three new elementary schools designed by ENVISION for the City School District of Albany. This creative and challenging project re-invigorated an empty early twentieth century urban school house on a confined inner city site. We designed a new three story addition that surrounds the original building on two sides and provides a complete complement of modern educational facilities to meet the District’s planning requirements, as well as those of the State Education Department. The school serves 300 students in grades Pre-Kindergarten through fifth, with two classes at each level. A railroad themed interior design scheme characterizes the public space, based upon the neighborhood’s early industrial history as a rail thoroughfare.