The now-closed Mandell School was a private K-8 and pre-school on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. As a school that took pride in its commitment to the arts, Mandell featured a professional-grade black box theater.

Designed for productions with very simple technical requirements, but at the same time had potential through professional-grade equipment and infrastructure to accommodate more sophisticated events and users (i.e.: outside rentals or visiting artists).

FDA specified rigging, lighting, and AV systems, as well as a flexible riser system for different seating configurations.

The black box space had a tension wire grid — unusual for a K-8 school — providing safe access to theatrical lighting. Students with proper supervision could safely and appropriately work up on the grid. Additionally, the grid was especially useful for more technically sophisticated professional or rental events.