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P.S. 62 The Kathleen Grimm School for Leadership and Sustainability
The first net-zero-energy public school in New York City, the Kathleen Grimm School for Leadership and Sustainability brings classrooms, administrative offices, a kitchen, and a cafeteria together in a compact, high-performance building designed for efficiency and durability.
As structural engineer, DeSimone designed a steel frame for the classroom wing, organized around daylit corridors, and provided a larger-span system for the multipurpose wing that houses the gymnasium and cafeteria.
| Client | New York City School Construction Authority (NYCSCA) |
|---|---|
| Architect: | Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM) |
| Size | 2 Stories | 68,000 SF (6,317 SM) |
| Sustainability | First Net Zero-Energy (NZE) public school in NYC | LEED Platinum |
| Office: | New York |
| Completion: | 2015 |
The efficient structural system required careful coordination with other building systems, including deep rooftop solar arrays, geothermal heating and cooling infrastructure, and high-performance wall assemblies. We also refined the framing layout to maintain continuous insulation and air-barrier layers, minimizing thermal bridging while supporting passive daylighting and natural ventilation strategies.
Because the site lies in a coastal zone on Staten Island, posing strict flood and wind criteria, we engineered the structure to meet stringent code requirements, including lateral resistance for high-wind events and resilience for flood conditions. To preserve enclosure performance, we developed envelope detailing at transitions—ensuring continuity of insulation and air-barrier systems—supporting the project’s net-zero energy target.
