Public School 31, 425 Grand Concourse

Public School 31, constructed 1897-99, represents an important step in the development of the Collegiate Gothic style as applied to public school architecture in New York City. Designed by C.B.J. Snyder during the early years of his lengthy term as Superintendent of School Buildings for the Board of Education of New York, P.S. 31 is one of the first New York public schools to display numerous late Gothic details, such as Tudor-arched doorways, and pointed windows topped with stone tracery. These and other elements, such as the central entrance tower and gabled bays, were further developed on Snyder’s larger, borough-wide high school buildings, such as Morris and Curtis High Schools. P.S. 31 was one of a large number of school buildings constructed around this time to accommodate the huge waves of immigrants moving into the Bronx from other :parts of New York, as well as from abroad. By designing so many schools in a relatively short period, Snyder had a tremendous influence on the developing New York City school building, both on its exterior appearance, as well as on its components and their arrangement.

STATUS Designated Individual Landmark

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