Saint David’ s Evolution and the History of Graham House
EARLY CONSTRUCTION AND TEAM INVOLVEMENT
• In 2015, the school began early construction, known as“ soft demo,” which involved removing interior treatments.
• Poelle was an integral member of the team assembled, including trustees, architects, engineers, and faculty, to work on the project. The project involved multiple revisions of the design to ensure it met the school’ s needs.
• The success of the Graham House adaptive renovation was attributed to the careful planning and financing by Dr. O’ Halloran and the trustees, involving years of cultivation and planning.
IMPACT OF GRAHAM HOUSE RENOVATION
• The renovation allowed the school to expand its assembly space, including the Otto-Bernstein Theatre, which now accommodates full divisions of the school.
• The project also provided more sports facilities, eliminating the need to bus students back and forth from off-campus sites.
• The renovation significantly increased the school’ s capacity, allowing for the expansion of Pre-K through eighth grade programs.
• The project was considered a departure from previous expansions, as the curriculum drove the design, rather than the existing architecture.
SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT
• With the recent completion of the renovation, school remained in session safely during Covid, due to the fact that the school was able to nimbly reconfigure space to remain operational— an incredible feat at a time in which most independent private institutions closed in-session.
• The project’ s success included the overall enhancement of the school and the growth of the facilities department from a street crew to a legitimate department with consistent processes and building management systems.
• The department transitioned from plant maintenance to facilities, with the growth of personnel and electronic systems for work orders.
FUTURE PLANS AND VISION FOR 15 EAST 88TH STREET
The Class of 2017 in the space that houses one of Saint David’ s gyms.
• A premium on class size remains essential to the Saint David’ s value proposition for 2025, 2030, and beyond. The acquisition of 15 East 88th Street allows for even more physical malleability to accommodate an increasingly robust program.
• 15 East enables the school to regain some of the original intent for faculty and staff use, including office space and storage.
• The middle grades will benefit from having a dedicated space, enhancing their sense of ownership and independence.
• The project will also complete the original vision of the campus, rounding out the four main buildings and adding to the overall cohesion of the school’ s facilities. •
Summer 2025 • 11