A program of environmental graphics for the school brings its mission and spirit to life through large-scale typography integrated directly into the building’s architecture.

PAVE’s new 40,000 sq ft building is notably the first elementary school constructed in Red Hook in over 50 years. Designed to eventually serve around 400 students from Kindergarten through 8th grade, the school was developed by Civic Builders, a nonprofit organization that partners with the New York City Department of Education to create charter schools.

As students arrive, they are welcomed by dimensional signage at the entrance. The name “PAVE Academy” wraps around a corner, emerging from the building’s surface in bold, 2-foot-deep letterforms. The interior faces of the aluminum letters are painted yellow, adding strong visual impact.

The school’s motto, “Building citizens and scholars brick by brick,” is reflected inside through educational slogans seamlessly combined with the architecture to inspire a vibrant learning environment.