Stamack helps transform school into state-of-the-art campus.

Stamack Construction's series of interior renovations at the Ethical Culture Fieldston (ECFS) Middle and Upper School in Riverdale is transforming and revitalizing 40,000 s/f in several key campus buildings at the renowned educational institution.

The multi-phased reconfigurations will enable the progressive school to make creative reuse of its existing space and better serve its growing academic and recreational needs.

Stamack was selected by ECFS in part for its reputation for working collaboratively with the community and its ability to perform major construction projects without disrupting ongoing functions. As project superintendent Russell Maltz notes, "In an academic setting, ensuring security, safety, and a healthy environment are paramount." Working in conjunction with Tishman Construction Corp., ECFS's Construction Manager, "we employed a complex logistics plan that provided a badging system for security, and barricaded, soundproofed and dust proofed certain areas," says Maltz.

Terry de Guzman, CFO and COO of ECFS, who is overseeing the campus expansion project, praised Stamack's role saying, "Not only are these renovations central to our overall project, but Stamack has had to accomplish this work while school is in session, taking care not to disrupt our students, teachers and the school's daily schedule--and their team has done a super job."

Following the vision of Cooper, Robertson & Partners, Architecture, Urban Design, the project optimizes the use of buildings already in place and respects the beauty of the existing structures.

As Maltz explains, "By gutting and renovating a series of related and adjacent buildings, we're creating wholly new and greatly expanded functions for the space."

The current junior varsity gym, pool and athletic support area are being transformed into a multipurpose building. The gym will be converted into a significantly expanded dual level dining hall able to seat 400 students at once and serve the entire student body, faculty and staff of 1200 in three consecutive meal periods. Students will enter the dining room through a brightly tiled serving area enclosed by partial-height, free-standing walls. Above it, a floating dining balcony will overlook the athletic fields and create an intimate seating area.

An elevator will improve access and facilitate deliveries, while the new kitchen will feature upgraded equipment and appliances. The space occupied by the present kitchen will be turned into a spacious infirmary.

The ECFS Performing Arts Center will expand to provide a suite of music rooms for band, chorus and ensemble rehearsals, as well as rooms devoted to string instruments, piano, jazz, and percussion. Electronic classrooms will offer a studio environment with professional quality recording capabilities.

The renovated Performing Arts Center will use state-of-the-art technology including acoustic doors floating concrete slabs that isolate vibrations, and high-tech audiovisual equipment and teaching tools such as smart boards and DVD projectors. There will be new offices for the music and performing arts faculty and a large performing arts classroom.

On the upper floor of the mixed use building, a reception area and admissions office overlooking the dining hall will feature full audiovisual and teleconferencing capabilities.

The current dining hall in the adjacent building located at the heart of the campus will convert into a large central room with a 25-foot high ceiling.