Facilities:
Optimizing Facilities, Technology & Systems
2025-2030: Facilities
Often described as a “secret garden” in the heart of the West Village, St. Luke’s is set upon two acres of gardens with pathways that connect external doors to outdoor spaces. It is a peaceful island in the heart of the hustle and bustle of New York City. Over the last 80 years of history, St. Luke’s School has grown in size and complexity. The schoolhouse, built ten years after its founding, was expanded in 2012 to accommodate the need to double class sizes as a way to sustainably separate from the founding church, The Church of St. Luke in the Fields. Over the last decade, improvements have been made to the grounds, including a stunning rooftop play area and bright, newly expanded classrooms on the second-floor “loggia” space.
Over the next five years, the facilities at St. Luke’s School will benefit from program-driven improvements that meet the needs of students today and tomorrow, a focus on the beautification and safety of our stunning gem of a campus, and an investment in the technology, systems, and workflows that position us to make better, data-informed decisions and help our school community thrive into the future.
Strategic Priority 1
Develop a facilities master plan that optimizes the short- and long-term usage of current and prospective indoor and outdoor spaces.
Strategic Priority 2
Assess and ensure that the school uses information technology, administrative systems, and hardware to operate effectively, stay up to date with data management and security, and meet student, family, and professional staff needs.
Strategic Priority 3
Develop and communicate a comprehensive strategy and implement action steps to institutionalize anti-bias practices and belonging.
Facilities and Belonging
Belonging is an essential component of experiencing St. Luke’s School, whether you are a prospective family or a veteran member of the professional staff. Facilities, technology, and systems are essential structures that enable us to nurture belonging for our entire community. As we look to the future, we will ensure that our facilities master plan, procedures, policies, and systems prioritize inclusion, community-building, and anti-bias practices.
Our Goals:
Facilities 2026 - 2027
Building on the successes of Year 1, we will continue to improve our facilities, systems, and workflows in mission-aligned ways, thereby strengthening the structures of belonging and anti-bias work at St. Luke’s School.
With a Facilities Study and Master Plan in hand, we better understand both the strengths and challenges of our facility, giving us a clear appreciation of the opportunities that lie before us. The implementation of our facilities plan will span the next four or more years, prioritizing program innovation and expansion, community-building, and ADA compliance.
As part of our ongoing work in response to the Church’s planned Community Center, St. Luke’s Center, we will complete the reimagined playspaces, consisting of the playground, courtyard, and amphitheater. We will continue to reimagine the remaining outdoor play and learning spaces on the roof to encompass a broad range of student interests, and partner with block constituents to meet the evolving security needs of our shared spaces.
Regarding technology and systems, we will continue to develop a sustainable, comprehensive training plan for students, families, and professional staff on both existing and new technologies. This plan will also include a comprehensive response to our cybersecurity audit.
In all areas necessary to support school operations, we will complete the documentation of existing anti-bias practices, policies, events, professional learning, and family education. We will also continue to communicate our commitment to belonging and nurture partnerships to enhance this work.
Our Strategic Plan in Action: 2025-2026
Key accomplishments of the 2025-2026 school year are below. Click on the photos to read more about the:
• opportunities that lie ahead for St. Luke’s facilities, including additional classrooms and accessibility, and enhanced use of the rooftop
• construction of the reimagined playground
• enhancement of the courtyard and amphitheater
• creation of tech tips from the Technology Department to the professional staff.
• enhanced use of Veracross for families (the St. Luke’s App is here!)
• integration of Google Classroom to support the Upper School academic program and enhance accessibility for students and visibility for families
• completion of cybersecurity audit
• survey of students regarding affinity groups as part of the annual wellness survey
• collaboration among the Equity & Belonging Office, the Upper School Division, and the School Chaplain to expand opportunities for student leadership
• training of professional staff in equity and inclusion best practices through professional learning throughout the year using Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta Hammond and at the end of the year in the Equity Institute
Based on the Facilities Study as part of the Master Plan, St. Luke’s has many opportunities ahead that will allow us to further enhance programming to more expansively meet the needs of our students. (Facilities Master Plan)
Based on the Facilities Study as part of the Master Plan, St. Luke’s has many opportunities ahead that will allow us to further enhance programming to more expansively meet the needs of our students. (Facilities Master Plan)
We began construction on the new playground on June 12, 2026, providing us with ample space for ball play, climbing, and running around. This new playspace is part of the over 18,000 square feet St. Luke’s students will enjoy once construction in complete. (Reimagined outdoor plan and learning spaces)
We began construction on the new playground on June 12, 2026, providing us with ample space for ball play, climbing, and running around. This new playspace is part of the over 18,000 square feet St. Luke’s students will enjoy once construction in complete. (Reimagined outdoor plan and learning spaces)
As part of our reimagined outdoor spaces, the courtyard construction has begun, expanding play areas and gathering spaces. Additionally, the amphitheater will receive a glow-up, providing additional seating. (Reimagined outdoor plan and learning spaces)
As part of our reimagined outdoor spaces, the courtyard construction has begun, expanding play areas and gathering spaces. Additionally, the amphitheater will receive a glow-up, providing additional seating. (Reimagined outdoor plan and learning spaces)
To meet the needs of the professional staff, the Technology Department created a weekly newsletter called Tech Tips to provide tips and efficiencies for the range of apps and databases our professional staff use. (Training students and families on existing and new technologies)
To meet the needs of the professional staff, the Technology Department created a weekly newsletter called Tech Tips to provide tips and efficiencies for the range of apps and databases our professional staff use. (Training students and families on existing and new technologies)
As we use Veracross more effectively as a database and portal destination for all important St. Luke’s information, it is important that families are provided with the tools they need to access their child’s schedules, calendars, directories, and other important information. Enter the St. Luke’s App, an easy way for families to learn how to use the Parent Portal effectively in support of their families needs. (Training students and families on existing and new technologies)
As we use Veracross more effectively as a database and portal destination for all important St. Luke’s information, it is important that families are provided with the tools they need to access their child’s schedules, calendars, directories, and other important information. Enter the St. Luke’s App, an easy way for families to learn how to use the Parent Portal effectively in support of their families needs. (Training students and families on existing and new technologies)
Google Classroom integration is becoming increasingly effective in supporting our academic program, enhancing accessibility for students, and increasing visibility for families. (Training students and families on existing and new technologies)
Google Classroom integration is becoming increasingly effective in supporting our academic program, enhancing accessibility for students, and increasing visibility for families. (Training students and families on existing and new technologies)
We completed our comprehensive cybersecurity audit and will begin implementing the recommendations in Year 2 in order to ensure that the data and digital assets of the St. Luke’s School community remain secure.(Cybersecurity review)
We completed our comprehensive cybersecurity audit and will begin implementing the recommendations in Year 2 in order to ensure that the data and digital assets of the St. Luke’s School community remain secure.(Cybersecurity review)
We added a question about affinity groups, inviting students to provide feedback on which other groups they wish we offered, as part of our annual student wellness survey. (Documented anti-bias practices, policies, events, professional learning, and family education)
We added a question about affinity groups, inviting students to provide feedback on which other groups they wish we offered, as part of our annual student wellness survey. (Documented anti-bias practices, policies, events, professional learning, and family education)
Through a collaborative effort among the Equity & Belonging Office, Upper School Divisional leadership, and the School Chaplain, more affinity spaces and student leadership opportunities are available to students. (Documented anti-bias practices, policies, events, professional learning, and family education)
Through a collaborative effort among the Equity & Belonging Office, Upper School Divisional leadership, and the School Chaplain, more affinity spaces and student leadership opportunities are available to students. (Documented anti-bias practices, policies, events, professional learning, and family education)
Members of the Equity & Belonging Office:trained all professional staff in equity and inclusion best practices through the study of the text Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta Hammond and at the end of the year in the Equity Institute. (Documented anti-bias practices, policies, events, professional learning, and family education)
Members of the Equity & Belonging Office:trained all professional staff in equity and inclusion best practices through the study of the text Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta Hammond and at the end of the year in the Equity Institute. (Documented anti-bias practices, policies, events, professional learning, and family education)
A Look Ahead:
Facilities 2027 - 2030
2027 - 2028
In our third year of the plan, we will continue implementing Phase One of the Facilities Master Plan. The construction of our reimagined outdoor play and learning spaces will be completed with a priority on our school’s security needs. We will implement our deferred maintenance plan. We will complete the implementation of a sustainable and comprehensive training process for all constituents on existing and new technologies and complete our evaluation of software and hardware needs. Data-informed decision-making processes are integrated throughout school operations, and we will implement and communicate about enhanced anti-bias frameworks and structures, ensuring St. Luke’s remains a place where all community members feel they belong.
2028 - 2029
This year, Phase One of the Facilities Master Plan will continue to be implemented with a focus on the security needs of our school community. We will continue to assess and refine our software and hardware needs as well as data sources to ensure that data-informed, anti-bias decision-making processes are integrated throughout school operations and shared with our school community.
2029 - 2030
In our final year of the plan, we will near the end of Phase One of the Facilities Master Plan, ensuring that our campus supports innovative programs, belonging, community-building, and inclusion through ADA compliance, as well as remaining a safe, secure haven in the middle of a bustling city. The school and architects will begin to plan for Phase Two of the Facilities Master Plan. Our decision-making processes will promote belonging and be firmly grounded in robust software, hardware, and databases, and integrated throughout school operations.
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