Ascend Charter School Brooklyn, New York

K&A provided extensive A/E services for the historical restoration and renovation of the Pitkin Theater. The theater opened in 1929 as a premier movie and Vaudeville stage show venue and featured a multi-tiered auditorium with Greek statuary adorning the side walls and proscenium area. Over time the neighborhood declined and the theater eventually closed its doors in the late 1960’s.

The scope includes a major exterior renovation, retaining the majority of  the terra-cotta ornamentation and the existing neo-classical and Art-Deco themed cornices, pilasters, and niches that were brought back to their original brilliance. The redesigned interior structure is built with state-of-the-art steel, concrete, and masonry systems and is retrofitted within the existing shell to accommodate the new mixed-use building needs. Rehabilitation and reuse of this property includes approximately 170,000 g.s.f. of area on 6 above-grade floors and a cellar level.  20,000 square feet of leasable commercial and retail space are available on the ground floor and a private Charter School will occupy the balance of the building. The Ascend Charter School will serve K-12 populations and features full curriculum spaces including art, music, and science labs as well as a multi-use gymnasium auditorium space.