CAZA revitalizes the historic Banknote building in The Bronx
August 4, 2026
How does a school encourage neighborhood development and adaptation?
Located in Hunts Point, a South Bronx neighborhood shaped by industrial legacy and renewed civic investment, Banknote positions education as a catalyst for community-centered revitalization. Set within the historic American Bank Note Printing Plant, the project builds upon a landmark once central to the production of domestic and foreign currencies in New York. A lightweight ceramic façade preserves the character of the historic structure while creating its own architectural identity. The modern feature honors the site’s history and simultaneously embeds the project into its current fabric and scenery.
The design redefines the school environment as a place of safety, openness, and belonging, employing architecture not only for shelter, but as a protective framework. Balancing privacy and visibility, the glass screen allows light to perforate inside, while the outer terracotta rainscreen remains a barrier between the public and private. Banknote is a neighborhood beacon, emanating light to its surroundings and maximizing views through the encased rooftop basketball court, establishing it as a community anchor.
Situating Design Within a Growing Urban Ecosystem
Through studying the existing school network in Hunts Point, Banknote is positioned as a critical addition to the evolving residential neighborhood. The project not only presents a solution to current needs, but also a route to adapt to urban growth. As a rib in the educational skeleton of Hunts Point, the design motivates development and continued support for the community. In balancing visibility with privacy, adaptable planning, and a multitude of shared spaces, Banknote shows how design can contribute to the neighborhood’s next chapter while helping students feel both protected and free.
A cornerstone of the design is maximizing open space while minimizing the footprint. Beyond the classrooms, over 7,500 square feet of outdoor programming creates a layered civic environment for students throughout the day to gather, interact, and exercise. This open floor plan allows the school to adapt to future needs by accommodating shifting programs. The modular framework facilitates two classroom types to exist within the corridors of the vertically-arranged building. Moving up from the ground floor that features administrative areas, public spaces, and amenities, the space continues to multiple classroom floors, ultimately reaching the pinnacle gymnasium floor. This spatial journey accommodates many programs while still allowing open space to surround the school.
