This fall, the Marymount School of New York opened the doors to its second permanent home on 97th Street, marking an exciting new chapter in the school’s history. More than a decade in the making, Marymount’s “school of the future” became a reality thanks to the visionary leadership of Headmistress Concepcion Alvar and the Board of Trustees, the generous support of hundreds of families and friends of the school, and the enthusiasm and dedication of the school’s faculty and staff.
While students in Nursery-Class V remain in the flagship campus on Fifth Avenue, Marymount’s Upper Campus offers 155,000 square feet of space for students in Classes VI-XII to grow and thrive through expanded academic, athletic, and artistic programming. Designed by COOKFOX Architects, the Upper Campus draws inspiration from the mansions on Fifth Avenue in an updated, modern way. Key spaces include:
Learning Laboratories: Innovative learning spaces foster collaboration and leadership in students and effectively facilitate critical thinking and problem-solving. In addition to traditional classroom spaces, the building features four science labs, two art studios, and a music room and practice rooms. The Fab Lab and Design & Engineering Studio on the ground floor anchor these spaces as hubs of curiosity, imagination, and innovation.
Fitness & Wellness Center: With a regulation-size gymnasium, and dance, exercise, and training rooms, Marymount can expand its PE and athletic programs to promote lifelong fitness and provide opportunities for healthy competition, leadership, and teamwork. With bleachers on both the main floor and the mezzanine of the gym, up to 300 fans can cheer the Marymount Lions on to victory at home games and tournaments.
Theater: On the Marymount stage, students find their voice, explore creative self-expression, and discover their passion for performing. The proscenium theater will allow 300 attendees to assemble for choral and instrumental performances, theatrical productions, and guest speakers. Marymount’s new theater will open in Spring 2024.
Dining Hall: Infused with abundant natural light, this is a place where students cultivate relationships, fuel their bodies and minds, and grow in community. This full-floor dining hall with spacious indoor and outdoor eating areas offers abundant healthy, nutritious food options.
RSHM Chapel: The RSHM Chapel is the literal and metaphorical heart of Marymount’s new campus and is a meaningful expression of the school’s values and Catholic heritage. This sacred space encourages reflection and spiritual growth for a community of faith, as students explore questions of personal integrity, ethical decision-making, and social justice.
Outdoor Spaces: Informed by the importance of nature to our intellectual, aesthetic, and spiritual growth, numerous outdoor spaces are interspersed throughout the building, including a roof garden, dining terrace, and lobby atrium. Named by an alumna in honor of Sister Clevie Youngblood, RSHM, the Prayer Garden sits just outside the RSHM Chapel, offering a beautiful, serene setting for reflection, contemplation, and inspiration.
On Wednesday, September 6, Marymount’s Board of Trustees and special friends of the school officially marked the opening of the building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a blessing by Sister Clevie Youngblood. Marymount then kicked off a new academic year with two days of orientation for students in Classes VI-XII as they learned the routines, policies, and procedures for the new campus.
On Saturday, September 9, the school opened its doors to nearly 2,000 members of the Marymount community at an open house that featured self-guided tours, activity stations, and volleyball home openers. Alumnae and alumnae parents celebrated the opening with a festive cocktail reception on the roof on September 14.
Opening festivities concluded on September 27, when Timothy Cardinal Dolan visited the school to dedicate the new Chapel in honor of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary. Over two dozen members of the RSHM shared this special blessing and enjoyed seeing the beautiful features of Marymount’s new home.