Breaking Ground on the Future
Nightingale Celebrates a New Era for Girls in Sports
On Saturday, September 27, members of the Nightingale community gathered for a historic milestone: the groundbreaking of the school’s new state-of-the-art athletics facility on East 108th Street. Representatives of Nightingale trustees, students, alumnae, school leaders, and community partners filled the site to witness the symbolic “first dig,” marking both the start of construction and a bold step into Nightingale’s future.
The ceremony opened with student leaders Emma T. ’26 and Mingma S. ’26, seniors and co-heads of the Upper School athletics board. “When we first heard about this project, we were excited to imagine a space designed just for us: Nightingale’s very own athletic fieldhouse,” said Emma. Mingma added that the facility is “much more than just games and competitions. For many of us, athletics has taught us leadership, sportsmanship, community, courage, and teamwork. These lessons have shaped who we are and they will stay with us long after our time at Nightingale.”
Board President Kathleen McCarthy Baldwin P’31 P’33 spoke to the crowd about the significance of the project within the broader scope of Nightingale’s mission. “When I think about the pillars of a Nightingale education…it’s about academic excellence, it’s about character, and it’s about community. And what we are doing here represents our commitment to all three,” she said. She also thanked the donors and trustees who are making the project possible: “When you know something could be better, and we have an opportunity to deliver excellence, this is a group of leaders in our school that gets after the problem. And this is a great example of it.”
Head of School Paul A. Burke reminded the community of how the vision for the facility was born out of necessity and aspiration. “We had a simple vision. Girls need a chance to play: something that is self-evident to all of us who have the great privilege of seeing girls grow from age five to the age of our seniors,” Mr. Burke said. He highlighted the facility as a promise not only to Nightingale students but also to East Harlem: “Please know that Nightingale is a place of its word. And when we say that being in East Harlem is a source of great pride for us, it is a source of great pride for us. And it is a longstanding promise that we are making to you that our girls need a space to play. And the girls in East Harlem also need a place to play.”
The program included remarks from New York State Assembly Member Eddie Gibbs, who shared his pride in welcoming Nightingale to East Harlem. “This community means a lot to me,” he said. “It's about women. It’s about athletics. It’s about giving women a space to grow, to learn, to be able to educate, and to be able to give back.” He added that he looks forward to “a positive, productive, athletic relationship” with the school and to seeing “our young women succeed.”
Outfitted with Nighthawk-branded hard hats and shovels, students helped mark the official start of construction on the 64,000-square-foot facility by joining Head of School Paul A. Burke, Board President Kathleen McCarthy Baldwin P’31 P’33, and the Nighthawk in the ceremonial first dig. When complete, the facility will feature an indoor turf field, two gymnasiums, a dance studio, strength and conditioning spaces, team rooms, and multipurpose areas designed to support not only athletics but also community programming. The project is being guided by Nightingale’s partners at STUDIOS Architecture, with Zubatkin Owner Representation and Consigli Construction leading project management and construction.
As Mr. Burke concluded in his remarks, he emphasized the profound effect the new facility will have on each Nightingale student. “She is going to have a better chance to grow up healthy. She is going to have a better chance of putting away her phone and growing up in person with her classmates. She is going to have a better chance of serving as a leader. She is going to have a better chance of understanding the breadth and depth of New York City. That’s what we’re doing. That’s what we’re doing together.”
This landmark project is part of Future Ready: Go Beyond, Nightingale’s most ambitious capital campaign to date. Through this campaign, the school is investing in facilities, programs, and endowment to ensure that every student has access to transformative opportunities—in academics, in the arts, and in athletics. Over the course of the campaign, every member of the Nightingale community will be invited to join in a shared vision that celebrates progress, possibility, and the enduring impact of athletics and wellness. The community’s collective efforts will leave a lasting legacy for generations of Nightingale students. To get involved, please email futureready@nightingale.org.
