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. 

• Q. What will be the physical changes in the 62nd Street building once the older boys are gone? Are there plans for renovations of any spaces?

  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.  

• Q. How will you ensure that the relationship between the three divisions will still exist now that they are in two buildings?

  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. 

• Q. What will this mean for the schedule – for example, will pick up and drop off times and lunch times be shifted because fewer people will be going in and out of the building?

  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.

• Q. Will changes be made to the gym or PE program since there is more space?

  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. 

• Q. What leadership opportunities will MS boys have now that they are the oldest in the building?

  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.

• Q. Will the reimagined space make way for curricular or programmatic changes?

  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.

• Q. Will the younger boys be able to use the 64th Street building?

  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.

• Q. Will teachers teach across divisions?

  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.

• Q. What changes will there be to class size?

  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.