Spence 412 Athletic & Ecology Center

Spence continued our partnership with Zubatkin on our latest project, the new Spence 412 Athletic and Ecology Center.  Zubatkin provided guidance and support through the entire project, including construction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their highly professional team was organized, proactive, and incredibly responsive. They were extremely diligent as we navigated a complex public approvals process and paid meticulous attention to every detail. Going above and beyond, they also helped us convert the brand new athletic spaces into classrooms to accommodate social distancing guidelines, then assisted us again in converting the space back to its original design. We are so grateful for Zubatkin’s representation and management of the whole process! 

Elyse Waterhouse
Director of Finance and Operations, The Spence School

With the goal of providing additional and enhanced spaces for its Athletics, Ecology and Arts programs within proximity of its core campus, Spence acquired a site and developed a plan to build a new, six-story athletic and ecology center on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The program called for a regulation sized gymnasium, training room, 9 squash courts, lockers rooms, teaching kitchen, student cafe, multi-purpose arts room, ecology classroom and greenhouse. The project involved the navigation of a series of complex public approvals and logistical challenges, as well as coordination with the community and ongoing communications with neighboring property owners.

Role + Responsibilities

Spence initially engaged Zubatkin to oversee the project implementation strategy, select and onboard the project team, manage the design and construction, and provide financial controls, administration and reporting. The Zubatkin team also navigated the public approvals strategy, as well as advised on the neighbor and community relations.

As the project approached substantial completion, the athletic spaces were converted to classrooms to accommodate a temporary need for additional educational spaces due to the pandemic. The facility has since been reconverted to support the School’s athletics and ecology programs’ needs in the long term.

Related Projects

  • Client Spence School
  • Location New York, NY
  • Size

    56,300 sf

  • Architect
    • Rogers & Partners
  • Construction Manager
    • Gilbane Building Company

AIA New York, Citation for the Impressive Three-Dimensional Qualities of a Complex Program, 2022