A Reimagined 62nd Street Building
Browning's original building at 52 E. 62nd Street, will become a K-8 facility with the Upper School's move to 337 E. 64th Street in Fall 2025.
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There will be targeted renovations to better meet the needs of K-8 boys. For example, both the library and the Computer Science & Engineering labs will be reimagined to meet the needs of this age group. A new K-8 movement space (with a climbing wall!) will replace the current weight room. There will be flex spaces to encourage collaboration, one of the current art rooms will become an area for STEAM exploration for younger students and there will be greater community space for Middle School boys.
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We will intentionally seek opportunities for students to gather as we believe that is necessary to maintain Browning's vibrant culture. In addition to all-school events such as the Panther Games, there will be opportunities for younger boys to come to the 64th Street building for basketball games, performances, and other community activities.
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With fewer students in the building, lunch times for Lower School boys will start later, and there will be less crowding in the cafeteria. Drop-off and staggered pick-up times for the division will remain unchanged. For Middle School, the schedule will remain focused on academic rigor and holistic development, with a pacing and rhythm of core academic subjects that serves the developmental needs of early adolescent boys. We will maintain key programs like advising and clubs, and provide daily recess, time for organization and studentship, and a weekly Drop Everything And Read time. Middle School will dismiss at 3:10 p.m. to allow students to catch the school buses without interrupting classroom learning time. The schedule balances academic and developmental priorities with minimal disruption.
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K-5 will have physical education daily and there will be four physical education teachers in the building. G4/G5 will have a revamped PE curriculum which includes intermittent seasons of intramural sports competitions. Middle School students will continue to have physical education three times a week.
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One of the benefits of this change is that younger boys will be able to have many more leadership opportunities. We would anticipate a more robust student council program, a Middle School tour guide program similar to the Key Society, and potentially more mentorship opportunities for our younger students. As we adjust to the new structure, new ideas for this will arise.
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The reimagined space will enable cross-grade K/1 and 4/5 collaboration with closer classrooms, provide a Tech Lab for Grades 2-8 with furniture and space suited for younger learners, and add a Curiosity Zone for art, science, and creative projects. The Wilson Room will have more flexible space for music programs, and co-curricular clubs will be available for Grades 3-5. We’ll also have larger, private spaces for learning support and counseling, as well as more room for the Lower School Library. Each advisory group will have a dedicated "home base," and we’re adding a Middle School fitness room and longer breaks for movement and relaxation.
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Our desire is for all students at Browning to be able to visit the new building for activities. As we live into the building, we will seek to create programming that supports the strength of the community that we have intentionally created, and makes use of our brand new facilities.
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Teachers will be assigned to one building rather than divisions. Some specialty teachers at the E. 62nd St. location will work with both Lower and Middle School students.
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We plan to grow the school to 500 students by 2028 by adding an additional section of Grade 6 students each year. Centering our growth on the start of Middle School allows us to increase the size of the student body in a way that is intentional and not disruptive to the school's culture.