The Waverly School

New York, New York

An Early Study Saves an Investment

Step One – Vision: Metro Montessori Schools (MMS), operators of five schools in the DC area, wanted to create a Montessori nursery school targeted for Manhattan’s under-served West Village.

Step 2 – The Space Proposed: Before MMS signed a lease for a space, they asked us to take a quick look at it. We did and because of several unknowns advised them to delay signing so that we could do a study of how the space would work.

Step 3 – Their New Facility: We outlined the number and size of the classrooms, along with support spaces as required by the Board of Health. Working with a mechanical engineer and expeditor, we prepared a layout with all of the functions that a NYC nursery school needs.

Step 4 – The Right Location: After studying how much air-conditioning, heating and ventilation was required, our team discovered that the floor didn’t have a condenser unit, which is required to air condition the space. The only locations that could hold that equipment were the roof and an adjacent second-floor terrace, and neither was available. That meant the space wouldn’t work. Our study saved the school from entering an onerous lease for an unworkable space. The school also decided not to pursue entering the Manhattan market.