As part of its community-focused mission, the new center provides social services in addition to its pre-school function. The ground floor of the building is designed for shared public use, with a daylit, double-height multipurpose space used as a gym by children during the day, and for community events afterhours. The expansive lobby serves as a pre-function space, showcasing artwork by children as well as local artists. The center is as much a community building as it is a pre-school.

The new center is guided by the Montessori educational philosophy that children’s most important learning occurs outside the classroom. This philosophy is the main design driver for the building, organizing instructional space around play roof terraces and blurring the distinction between indoors and outdoors. The landscaping of these play roofs is inspired by Coney Island’s sand dunes and native grasses, incorporating nature into children’s everyday learning. Light-filled classrooms have expansive wall-to-wall windows, strengthening their relationship to the play roofs and beckoning children outside.