Announcement

Earlier this month, we kicked off the revitalization of historic Building 324 on Governors Island as part of our ongoing partnership with the Trust for Governors Island. Originally designed by May and Hillard as the Fort Jay YMCA in 1926, this 26,000-square-foot Neo-Georgian building once housed a club, offices, exercise rooms, and an outdoor swimming pool.

After years of vacancy, our team will focus on stabilizing the building’s core and exterior, addressing critical repairs while preserving its distinctive architectural elements in preparation for a new tenant.

This project not only safeguards a significant piece of Governors Island’s architectural heritage but also contributes to the island’s ongoing transformation into a vibrant year-round destination.

MFA recently began design for a new K-6 public school awarded through the Northwest Arkansas Design Excellence Program. As part of the renaissance of downtown Bentonville, Arkansas, the project will transform the existing R.E. Baker Elementary and Old High Middle School campus into a state-of-the-art learning environment while thoughtfully preserving the historic Old High structure.

Last week, we traveled to Bentonville to kick off the project and meet with the Bentonville Public Schools Board of Education to explore the district’s vision for a transformative school model. Designed for 1,200 students, the new school will focus on hands-on learning, foster environmental stewardship, and strengthen connections within the community. The design will reflect the school’s identity while integrating walkable and bike-friendly connections to the city’s trail network, incorporating outdoor spaces that inspire exploration and play, and prioritizing sustainable strategies where feasible. The design process will engage educators, students, families, and the broader Bentonville community to shape a school that evolves alongside their needs into the future.

We look forward to sharing updates as this exciting project progresses.

We are thrilled to celebrate the unveiling of the design for the New Lots Library. MFA partnered with MASS Design Group and worked closely with Brooklyn Public Library and the East New York community to reimagine how a new public library can serve as a beacon of restorative justice, honoring the history of its site while creating new opportunities for celebration, connection, storytelling, and healing. Developed through a robust community engagement process, the design reflects a deep dialogue with the East New York community about their past, present, and vision for the future.

The new 25,000-square-foot library will replace the existing branch, expanding access to essential educational and cultural resources for generations to come. Thoughtfully designed to foster solidarity and shared memory, the space embodies a commitment to renewal and community-driven growth. At its core, the design for the library acknowledges the historic African burial ground on which the current library stands, providing a new space for reflection, renewal, and reconciliation.

Programming includes dedicated reading and music rooms, learning and exhibition spaces, an auditorium for community events, and outdoor areas for gathering and reflection.

“Public libraries are some of the most trusted places in our city, and each branch library has an opportunity to be responsive to the unique needs of their community. The Brooklyn Public Library continues to demonstrate their commitment to their communities, supporting designs that offer transformative visions for their libraries,” said Karen Fairbanks, Founding Partner of Marble Fairbanks Architects. “Here at the New Lots Library, we hope this project expands that trust by acknowledging past wrongs and offering spaces inside and out that empower the East New York community to grow, to make, to learn, to advocate and to continue their journey.”

By embedding these spaces within the community, the New Lots Library will be an anchor of social infrastructure in the New Lots and Brooklyn community—strengthening inclusion, deepening community connections, and contributing toward a more equitable future.

Earlier today, we were on campus at Brown University with the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) for “Building on Distinction,” exploring exciting campus developments and their broader impact.

During the event, Karen presented our renovation and addition project for Churchill House, home to Brown University’s Department of Africana Studies and Rites and Reason Theatre. Throughout the day, Jason and Tanya welcomed SCUP community members for building tours, highlighting the project’s innovative design elements and meaningful impact.

The event offered valuable opportunities to examine how our Churchill House project, alongside others presented, advances Brown University’s academic mission, aligns the campus with strategic initiatives, and strengthens vital connections with the Providence community.

This collaborative exploration demonstrated how thoughtful architectural interventions can honor institutional heritage while creating spaces that foster academic excellence and community engagement.

This fall, Karen presented the Greenpoint Library and Environmental Education as part of the Designing Libraries for the 21st Century Annual Conference. Her talk focused on how the legacy of intense community activism around the environment shaped the project, leading to a design that heals past damage to the site and introduces new ways for the community to focus on environmental justice and education.

Karen joined Greg Raschke, Senior Vice Provost and Director of Libraries, NC State University, on the panel Community-Centered Design: A Current Framing. The panel was moderated by Patrick Deaton, Associate Director, Learning Spaces and Capital Management, NC State University.