Benton Hall Academy is an historic, monumental elementary school located in the heart of Little Falls, New York. The site, situated on a steep hill, posed a number of challenges. Our design focused on creating a series of plazas near the main building entries that would create gathering spaces for students, teachers and parents; mitigate cross-slopes and drainage issues at major thoroughfares; foster a stronger connection between the school and the adjacent playground and park; and aesthetically enhance the building in a manner befitting the historic character of the building.