This was guided by several basic principles: 

That the building should be as compact as possible on the site, and yet still accommodate the substantial number of program spaces.  This led to the long-span steel truss structure—so as to be able to stack the back-to-back (and staggered in section) squash courts on top of the Gymnasium; 

That the students should be encouraged to use the Special Stair, accessed from the Main Lobby, leading to all the major program spaces on the floors above; 

That all the major program spaces should receive natural light.  In the Gymnasium and in the Multi-Purpose Room, the design called for patterned translucent glass, so as to provide visual privacy for the students relative to the residential apartment windows directly across the street.  Only the Study Center has transparent glass.