M524 is a 30,000 SF 3K school occupying the first three floors of a 20-story residential tower. Formerly a commercial space, the facility now serves 180 students across 12 classrooms, two exercise rooms, a food pantry, and all support areas required by NYC DOE standards. Velocity served as both Architect and Engineer of Record, leading the project from concept through completion. Our scope included condition assessments, utility and constraint surveys, compliance reporting, and full construction administration.
Velocity self-performed all design disciplines, including architecture, HVAC, electrical power, low-voltage and communications systems, plumbing, fire protection, and fire alarm, demonstrating in-house expertise and integrated coordination. The school’s location beneath an occupied high-rise presented unique engineering challenges, including limited ceiling clearances and no rooftop access for mechanical equipment. Velocity developed innovative solutions, placing all outdoor equipment indoors and outside the building’s thermal envelope while maintaining operational efficiency. This approach required close collaboration with façade consultants, rigorous thermal and performance analysis, and precise coordination across all technical disciplines.
M524 highlights Velocity’s ability to transform constrained, unconventional spaces into safe, modern, and code-compliant learning environments through adaptive, forward-thinking design.
