Designed in 1993 by Beverly Willis, the Manhattan Village Academy was known for having the feel of a private liberal arts school. The designs of the building made by Willis helped define the school and showed what it represented on an academic level. Certain classroom clusters were established and classified by grades, which would help with organization. The academy’s roots and and philosophies came from the architecture of the building. There was also an open space surrounded by the three clusters of classrooms that could fit up to nearly 100 students. The building also provided a library, cafeteria,  and an auditorium. Glass walls are were suggested as a way to carefully monitor student activity along common areas of the academy.