Christoff : Finio
Fillmore Place Preschool

Brooklyn, New York

Environment is the third teacher according to the Reggio Emilia philosophy of early childhood education on which this school is based.  This three-story, 5,000-square-foot preschool is to be constructed on a tiny lot in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. With space, both indoors and out, at a premium, the building seeks more innovative ways to connect children to their classroom and to the wider world. The building is transparent. A timber mullion system carries the taut glass facade while doubling as the framework for a component system of basic classroom elements: storage, display, work surface, and play. From the exterior, these elements create the pattern of the façade, interrupting the transparency provided by the glass.

Publications: The Architect’s Newspaper, Curbed NY, DNAinfo New York, NY City Lens

After 24 successful years as Founding Partners at Christoff:Finio Architecture, TARYN CHRISTOFF and MARTIN FINIO are now practicing independently.