From the Ground Up: The New “Jimmy Carter School of the Humanities”

Forte Construction Corp. has completed construction of a new 487-seat middle school in Brooklyn. Delivered in collaboration with the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA), the Jimmy Carter School of the Humanities is now open and serving students.

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Built from the ground up, the school brings together academic, arts, athletic and specialized learning spaces within one fully accessible facility. The building includes general and special education classrooms, dedicated District 75 spaces, science classrooms and labs, art and music rooms, a library, cafeteria and kitchen, medical and guidance spaces, occupational and physical therapy rooms, and a fourth-floor gymnasium/auditorium. Public artwork incorporated through Public Art for Public Schools (PAPS) is also integrated into the building.

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Sustainability is an important part of the design. One of its defining features is a biosolar roof, combining a green roof with solar photovoltaic systems to bring vegetation and renewable energy together. The building also incorporates a solar canopy, terracotta rainscreen, and vertical sun-control features. The project was designed and constructed in accordance with the NYC Green Schools Guide, supporting the SCA's standards for sustainable school design and construction.

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Specialized features throughout the school support the different ways students learn, gather, and participate. The fourth-floor gymnasium also serves as an auditorium, with a stage and floating wood floor that allows the space to accommodate both athletic and school-wide activities. Passenger elevators and a dedicated wheelchair lift provide accessible access to the fourth-floor stage and other areas of the facility.

Forte and the SCA delivered the new building through careful planning, clear communication, and focused execution. Together with the broader project team, they maintained progress through each phase of construction and advanced the new school through completion.

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Following the receipt of its Temporary Certificate of Occupancy, the Jimmy Carter School of the Humanities was ready to welcome students for the new school year. Today, the school is fully active, with students and staff making use of the classrooms, specialized learning environments, and shared spaces throughout the building.