DIGroup Architecture-Designed Albee Square Montessori Public School Selected for the 2024

DIG has been selected by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce for the Second Annual “Best of Brooklyn Real Estate Showcase” for its design of Albee Square Montessori Public School. The Best of Brooklyn event, which was held at The Refinery at Domino and featured 30 Brooklyn-based projects, celebrates transformative new developments and dynamic growth throughout the borough.

Located at One Willoughby Square, the Albee Square Montessori Public School is situated on the first six floors of a new 34-story mixed-use building branded as 1WSQ . The 540-foot-high office tower, designed by FXCollaborative, is the first new building of its kind to take shape in Downtown Brooklyn since 2004.

Totaling 80,000 square feet, the state-of-the-art school houses PreK through 5th grade pupils. Features range from a gymatorium and cafeteria, to 14 classrooms, two special education rooms and a ground-level dedicated entrance.

Completion of the Albee Square Montessori Public School is DIG's first project in partnership with New York City School Construction Authority (NYC SCA). In addition to addressing the growing demand for educational space in Downtown Brooklyn, it also enhances the neighborhood's dynamic urban landscape.

By integrating modern educational facilities within a high-density urban environment, the school represents a significant achievement. The development has been in the making for decades, showcasing how innovative architecture can meet the needs of a vibrant community across generations.

“DIG was founded to address the need for educational spaces that uplift communities and allow students to reach their full potential,” said DIG CEO Jeffrey Venezia. “We are honored by the recognition from the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce for our work on the Albee Square Montessori Public School and are proud to play a role in New York City's mission to expand access to modern, safe schools.”

In addition to the Albee Square Montessori Public School in Downtown Brooklyn, DIG is actively engaged in several notable projects across New York City. The firm has designed a PK3 Center in Brooklyn, further contributing to the city's early childhood education initiatives, and is nearing completion of two other educational facilities: Q340 in Queens and a 100,000-square-foot school for K-5th grade students in the Bronx.

DIG also has an extensive portfolio of projects across New Jersey, including Rose M. Lopez Elementary School, Camden High School, and Trenton Central High School as well as Pennsylvania. In the latter, DIG is involved with the Family Community Welcome Center for the Allentown School District and recently completed extensive renovations at Philadelphia's Edwin Forrest School.