Announcement of the completion and opening of 24 new school buildings (Left to R) New York City Public Schools Chancellor David Banks, and New York City School Construction Authority (SCA) President and CEO Nina Kubota | Photo by Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office
NEW YORK—Twenty-four new school buildings, including 11,010 new seats, across the city, were available when the first day of the 2024-2025 school year opened on Sept. 5. According to the Adams administration, these new schools mark the most new K-12 seats opened by the School Construction Authority (SCA) since 2003. Also, over 20,000 student seats had already been added during the Adams administration.
In addition, the newly adopted 2025-2029 Capital Plan provides funding for another 33,417 seats. This significant expansion will provide students with state-of-the-art facilities and resources for continued academic success and development.
“Our administration is committed to giving our children a first-class education, and a crucial part of a great education is having access to great facilities,” said Mayor Eric Adams. ” … {T]hese new schools are going to be incredible spaces for students and staff alike, will play a crucial role in fostering a sense of well-being for our children, and will help us build a safer, more affordable, and more livable city.”
New school buildings have been completed in four boroughs, with nine in Brooklyn, eight in the Bronx, one in Manhattan, and six in Queens. With a commitment to fostering an enriching educational environment, the new school buildings feature modern classrooms, advanced technology, and versatile learning spaces to ensure that they meet the diverse needs of New York City’s student population. They are also constructed with green spaces and environmentally friendly materials, promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship. Key features of the new school buildings include:
Innovative Learning Spaces — Classrooms equipped with the latest educational technology, flexible space and furniture, and collaborative workspaces, including:
- Reading and speech resource rooms
- Art and music classrooms
- Science lab and prep rooms
- Special education classrooms
- Libraries
- Gymnasiums and auditoriums
Community Integration – Multi-purpose spaces designed to serve students, staff, and the surrounding community, fostering stronger community ties and support networks, including:
- Medical, guidance counselor, and administrative suites
- Parent and community rooms
- Indoor and outdoor play spaces
- Staff lunch and conference room
“School buildings are the physical representation of the investment we make in our children and our city as we cultivate the next generation of leaders,” said Public Schools Chancellor Banks. “These new buildings will provide 11,000 new classroom seats, creating more space for bright starts and bold futures. We are truly grateful to our partners at SCA and City Hall for standing alongside us in this vital effort to expand opportunities for our students.”
The Adams administration said SCA would continue to invest in creating new seats in areas of current overcrowding and projected growth and to help schools comply with state legislation requiring smaller class sizes. SCA will also continue promoting healthier school environments, advocating for better health and nutrition, broadening opportunities for physical education, and investing in existing infrastructure to provide better facilities for New York City’s students, teachers, and staff.
As part of SCA’s Public Art for Public Schools Program, it has also installed 21 new, site-specific pieces of artwork by several artists in the new buildings. The pieces were created using a wide range of materials, including hand-blown glass, porcelain enamel, ceramic tile, metal, lenticular and vitreous glass, cast resin, acrylic, powder-coated aluminum and steel, painted and printed glass, c-prints, stone, and found objects.
–With Jay Domingo/PDM
