As New York’s first mass timber school, the Garden House combines natural materials and passive systems to create a healthy, human-centered environment for early learning. Atelier Ten worked with WXY and The Packer Collegiate Institute to bring the sustainability vision to life in both the school’s 2022 Facilities Master Plan and in the Garden House.
The all-electric, mass timber addition to the renovated nineteenth-century brownstone incorporates high-performance insulation, daylight-responsive lighting, and efficient HVAC systems. Through careful material selection, reduced material quantities, and reuse strategies, the project significantly lowered embodied carbon emissions. The exposed mass timber structure and brick façade—made from 100% recycled clay—support both carbon reduction and wellness goals.
Atelier Ten led daylight analysis to optimize the school for comfort and visual quality. Light wells bring daylight into below grade spaces and lighter interior finishes amplify the natural light. Interior blinds mitigate glare during peak sun hours.
