This September, a long-awaited vision for Bank Street’s exterior came to life with the installation of a new awning and six vibrant banners above the building’s main entrance on West 112th Street. First imagined in 2019, the project was led by the Strategy & Operations team to help reflect the warmth, creativity, and depth of Bank Street community members working inside the building and beyond.
The banners are inspired by the Bank Street Readers, a groundbreaking series of early childhood literacy books created by founder Lucy Sprague Mitchell in the late 1960s. The series celebrated the everyday lives of diverse children across the city, giving young readers a chance to see themselves and their communities reflected in schoolbooks. This revolutionary approach transformed children’s literature and continues to embody Bank Street’s enduring commitment to equity.
In addition to their striking design, the banners showcase the shared values that unite Bank Street’s diverse programs. While signage continues to guide visitors to the School for Children, Family Center, Graduate School, Liberty LEADS, and the Education Center, the new banners serve as a collective symbol of the people and programs that define Bank Street. The Head Start program will also display its own banner at a future date, extending the spirit of connection across campuses.
Bringing this project to life required careful planning and coordination across teams. The Facilities team played a vital role in ensuring a safe and seamless installation, working closely with our library staff and archivist as well as vendors and architects to move the project forward.
