Nightingale is proud to unveil plans to construct a groundbreaking athletics facility located just minutes from its East 92nd Street Schoolhouse. The state-of-the-art center will redefine girls’ athletics in New York City, creating an environment where students build confidence, resilience, and leadership skills that will serve them throughout their lives. This announcement represents an ambitious step forward in the school’s commitment to providing a world-class education that expands opportunities for personal growth through sports and wellness.

A Facility Designed to Meet the Moment

The importance of athletics in shaping young women’s futures is undeniable. Research from the Women’s Sports Foundation highlights that participation in sports fosters critical life skills, providing girls with the tools to challenge societal barriers and thrive as leaders. Research also identifies the connection between athletics and wellness, showing how sports participation can significantly enhance mental health, foster social connectedness, and encourage lifelong healthy habits. These insights underscore the necessity of creating an environment where girls can fully realize the transformative benefits of athletic participation.

Yet, despite these benefits, access to athletic spaces in New York City has become increasingly scarce. Field shortages and growing competition for gym space present ongoing challenges for schools across the city. Recognizing these barriers, Nightingale launched

its first-ever athletics strategic plan last year, which identified the need to expand access to high-quality spaces for student-athletes. The results of that work have underscored the importance of creating an athletics facility dedicated to meeting this critical need.

"We are building an urban athletics center—that emphasizes girls’ team sports—like you’ll find nowhere else in the world. This initiative comes at a time when girls’ and women’s athletics are more recognized than ever for the transformative role they play both in the lives of the players and in the broader society they shape," Head of School Paul A. Burke said.

Setting a New Standard for Girls' Athletics

Nightingale’s athletics facility will be the largest of its kind among independent schools in Manhattan, providing year-round access for training, practice, and competition. Situated on 108th Street between Lexington Avenue and Third Avenue, the facility’s centerpiece will be a high-performance indoor turf field—an unparalleled resource that will provide daily access for both team training and physical education. Measuring over 15,000 square feet, this expansive space will support nearly 200 Middle and Upper School field sport athletes in soccer, lacrosse, and softball, as well as countless students from Kindergarten through Class XII for other sports, PE classes, and activities. Unlike outdoor fields subject to seasonal limitations and unpredictable weather, this indoor field will be available year-round to Nightingale students, providing athletes with a consistent, high-quality training environment. It will also serve as a central resource for physical education, cross-divisional activities, and open play, enhancing not just athletic performance but also fostering collaboration and wellness throughout the school community.

The new facility will also be anchored by two modern gymnasiums and state-of-the-art strength training and conditioning spaces, designed to support students of all ages and athletic abilities. A competition gym will serve as the stage for major events like Homecoming games and conference tournaments. A second gym will provide a dynamic space for physical education classes, team practices, and other activities. These spaces will be complemented by a multipurpose studio with a sprung floor and training areas equipped with specialized equipment, dedicated workout spaces, and resources grounded in the latest research on girls’ strength and injury prevention. These resources will empower students of every sport to build strength, enhance flexibility, and develop endurance—preparing athletes to excel on and off the field.

“Our mission is to provide a world-class education that inspires girls to go beyond barriers, and this facility is an embodiment of that promise. This is a huge opportunity for Nightingale to take an athletics program that is already good and make it exceptional. This space will give our students the resources they need to grow both as athletes and as leaders,” Board of Trustees President Kathleen McCarthy Baldwin P’31 P’33 said.

A Commitment to Community

As Nightingale expands into East Harlem, this initiative reaffirms the school’s commitment to building meaningful connections beyond its blue doors on 92nd Street. For years, Nightingale has engaged in community outreach efforts designed to foster collaboration and shared opportunities for growth. With the creation of this new facility, Nightingale has an opportunity to deepen those efforts and create lasting relationships that benefit both its students and the broader neighborhood.

A recent report by the Aspen Institute titled State of Play Harlem underscores the critical lack of access to reliable athletic facilities in East Harlem, highlighting barriers such as limited school spaces, competition for public fields, and safety concerns. By partnering with local organizations, Nightingale’s new facility presents a meaningful opportunity to serve as a permanent, dependable resource for the neighborhood’s youth—a space where they can also play, grow, and thrive.

This facility stands as a testament to Nightingale’s belief in the potential of every girl. It also reflects a commitment to creating a space that can inspire and provide opportunities for children in the broader community.

"Sports has always been my foundation. It’s where I’ve met the most people, it’s where my community’s really started. You have to start somewhere. Being the leader of a sports team, that’s the foundation, and then you go out and you can do bigger things in the bigger world," Varsity Athlete Jada C. ’25 said.

A Campaign for Nightingale's Future

Nightingale looks boldly toward its future and will embark on a capital campaign to bring this transformative facility to life. 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.

Leading Through Sports

This transformational project marks a defining moment for Nightingale as it continues to step confidently into a second century of excellence. At its heart, this new athletics facility is more than just a building—it’s a rallying cry for the power of sports to shape lives. From the roar of the crowd in the gymnasium to the first kick on the indoor turf field, this facility will be a dynamic hub where students push boundaries, build resilience, and celebrate the camaraderie and spirit of competition. By creating a space designed specifically for our Nighthawks to thrive as athletes and as teammates, Nightingale is setting a new standard for excellence in sports education that will inspire generations to come.

“Nightingale’s emphasis on the importance of leadership and team building really sets it apart from other schools. Athletics can’t really teach us a lot of important qualities that are required to be a leader," Varsity Athlete Ashima B. ’26 said.