This project looks at the lack of awareness and resources directed towards special education, including autism, in New York City, especially in the Lower East Side region. Rather than providing uniform learning environments, the school recognizes that every kid is different, regarding needs, senses, and spaces. Instead of letting the structures define the circulation and programs, such choices are given to the children where they can freely navigate throughout the school. Therefore, the school performs like a cat’s cradle game where the two existing bars act as the hands, holding most of the typical classrooms and labs. The connecting bridges are like the strings, creating endless interesting experiences and interactions. This results in a school where one can continuously explore the spaces from the ground to the rooftop in various routes, and everyone’s experience is different.
