Schools like P.S. 70Q as originally constructed in the early or mid-20th Century are not unique to New York. Traditional masonry buildings with double-loaded corridors can be found serving communities across the United States, where they often occupy an important place central to civic life. In addition to providing the setting for teaching and learning, these buildings are frequently where members of their communities go to vote, attend meetings of various kinds, gather for social and cultural events, and participate in other types of civic engagement. Unfortunately, the combined forces of time, climate, and lagging maintenance can leave school districts’ facilities teams with significant, and often unexpected challenges. Schools typically age faster than the funding to fix them is allocated.

For some municipalities this leads to a continuing cycle of deferred maintenance pushed forward by each newly composed school board to the next one, while student populations change and expand, and the natural wear-and-tear process accelerates. For officials to address the deleterious effects of time, weather, and full occupancy on older masonry school buildings, there are two primary approaches that can help districts save money, while addressing facility upkeep strategically and sustainably. The first was applied to P.S. 70Q: a context-sensitive expansion that provides value to the community visibly and tangibly. Comprehensive improvements like these have the ability to excite community stakeholders to greater appreciation of capital-intensive projects.

The other approach is to focus on more targeted, energy-conscious façade upgrades and envelope improvements. In many cases, upgrading can be as straightforward as replacing outdated, thermally inefficient windows. Replacing ill-fitting or underperforming fenestration with new framing and glazing that meets or exceeds energy goals can be an uncomplicated and cost-effective way to improve a school building’s energy performance while adding a new sheen to the façade’s aesthetic.

New windows will not address all of an enclosure’s shortcomings, however. More and more often K-12 facilities built with traditional solid masonry load-bearing walls are today degrading considerably and are frequently porous and leaking. The damage to brickwork, window openings and interior plaster walls can be severe. Replacing masonry may not be a practical option—and even when it is possible it can lead to an unappealing patchwork look that inspires little confidence in the community the school serves.

For these facilities, an over-cladding method is recommended. By wrapping the masonry in a new façade layer, it is possible to introduce more modern architectural thinking to older schools. An overclad with a moisture barrier, for instance, can add years to the structure’s life span, while offering an opportunity to refresh the aesthetic with an array of styles available in masonry, rainscreen paneling, EIFS, or other materials. Let’s consider two examples of approaches to façade upgrades, including one that uses over-cladding.

P.S. 73, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Built in the late 19th Century, the aging brick façade of this remarkable building had naturally begun to weaken after more than one hundred years of service. A site visit by architects revealed that the original copper cornices were deteriorated and gone, and that pieces of brick and mortar were working their way loose, presenting a potential hazard to passersby. These were red flags, and a project team began to address the issue.

To rehabilitate the structure, the designers working with SCA recreated some of the original architectural components, matching them exactly in order to produce a cohesive look that honors the familiar and locally beloved school. Apart from these cosmetic approaches, a considerable amount of effort went into the use of grout injection technology to strengthen the aging masonry from within. Filling every void and hairline crack, the hydraulic lime grout has enhanced the structural integrity and prevented future damage from penetration by moisture.

P.S. 88, Queens, N.Y.

Built in 1907, this facility in the Ridgewood neighborhood had a need to improve the energy performance of its enclosure while returning distressed and discolored architectural details to some measure of their former glory. Over the decades some architectural features had been removed, including the original parapets, cornices, and other neoclassical detail. At the same time, the rehabilitation project would have to address the severe moisture damage to the academic spaces inside, which were revealed by a site survey, in order to protect students and staff from mold and other environmental health hazards. The project team tested exterior walls to determine the amount of water ingress and relative structural integrity, inspecting the headers, wood window jambs, interior clay tile and plaster finish.

The building was determined to be an ideal candidate for façade overcladding. The existing wall would be treated with an exterior parge coat and new moisture barrier, followed by a drainage mat. Last, a new brickface would be installed in a color and style to match the original. At the building base, cast stone masonry replicas preserved the original architectural profiles, and lookalike cast-stone headers were installed over existing, rehabilitated steel. New windowsills with flashing and sub-sill pans were installed and the parapet, stripped of its original character over time, was rebuilt with reinforced concrete and hung with an ornamental cornice composed of glass fiber-reinforced concrete. The overclad for PS 88 not only stabilized the school building and extended its service life but revived a beloved neighborhood symbol.

These solutions are complicated and challenging to explain to stakeholders who are not building professionals, but once the project team has the confidence of decision makers, a community will be able to enjoy a piece of its legacy, an iconic architectural landmark, for decades to come. Masonry strengthening, façade overcladding and targeted expansions represent cost-effective approaches to making the most of existing K-12 facilities, benefiting a wide and diverse group of users. They can also contribute to improved neighborhood cohesion, helping to celebrate and build upon the legacy of each historic school building.