New York City’s first new public high school in 60 years opened to students on September 19.
Designed by Ennead Architects, East Harlem Scholars Academy High School aligns with the East Harlem Tutorial Program’s (EHTP) goal to familiarize its students with a collegiate-like environment in preparation for their future academic transition.
“We hope this serves as a model for future public schools throughout the city for years to come,” said Steven Chu, a design partner at Ennead, in a prepared statement.
High school encourages study and research
The 70,000-sf building provides students with spaces needed to support a flexible, enhanced academic schedule, and to accommodate programming across all EHTP schools. The building’s six stories include 25 classrooms, an art and music room, and fully equipped labs for biology, chemistry, and physics.
The school also features a college access suite that encourages study and research, and provides college counseling, SAT and Regents test prep, and EHTP’s flagship College Mentoring Program. The building’s design includes break-out and small-group study areas.
To fit the needs of all students, including those who are neurodivergent, the design team incorporated special lighting and sound, as well as ample acoustical absorption within the walls of the school’s lobby and cafeteria. The design of the classrooms and stairwells lets in natural light and takes into account visibility to reinforce openness and transparency.
School features sustainable design
The school’s amenities include a full-sized gym, a Black Box Theater, and cafeteria, with an eye toward making the school a community hub. To the right of the cafeteria is a backyard terrace. And the building’s glass façade offers generous views of the city.
Sustainability is also on display. To mitigate the effects of flooding, the high school, located on 104th Street and First Avenue, is in a designated flood zone. The lobby is lifted three feet above ground level. And a blue roof captures stormwater for easier drainage.
East Harlem Scholars Academy High School consolidates the 9th, 10th, and 11th grades, which had been operating out of temporary buildings at 96th and 106th streets on Second Avenue. The new school serves 326 students, 67% of whom are Hispanic, and 28% are Black.
Related Stories
Building Team | May 20, 2022
Caltech breaks ground on a new center to study climate and sustainability
The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) recently broke ground on its Resnick Sustainability Resource Center.
Laboratories | May 20, 2022
Brutalist former Berkeley Art Museum transformed into modern life science lab
After extensive renovation and an addition, the former Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive at the University of California, Berkeley campus reopened in May 2022 as a modern life science lab building.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | May 19, 2022
Northern Arizona University opens a new training center for its student athletes
In Flagstaff, Ariz. Northern Arizona University (NAU) has opened its new Student-Athlete High Performance Center.
University Buildings | May 16, 2022
Yale’s newly renovated Schwarzman Center enriches student campus social life
Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA) recently unveiled the design of their restoration of the Schwarzman Center at Yale University, which includes dining spaces, a bar, and a food shop.
K-12 Schools | May 16, 2022
Private faculty offices are becoming a thing of the past at all levels of education
Perkins & Will’s recent design projects are using the area to encourage collaboration.
K-12 Schools | May 16, 2022
A Quaker high school in Maryland is the first in the U.S. to get WELL Gold certification
Designed by Stantec, a Quaker high school is the first in the US to receive WELL Gold certification, which recognizes a commitment to occupants’ health and well-being.
School Construction | May 11, 2022
New Digital Learning Commons at Rutgers supports doctoral programs in over 16 disciplines
The new Digital Learning Commons at the Rutgers University Archibald S. Alexander Library provides students in over 16 courses of study and four professional schools with spacious collaborative and study space.
Sponsored | BD+C University Course | May 10, 2022
Designing smarter places of learning
This course explains the how structural steel building systems are suited to construction of education facilities.
Sponsored | BD+C University Course | May 3, 2022
For glass openings, how big is too big?
Advances in glazing materials and glass building systems offer a seemingly unlimited horizon for not only glass performance, but also for the size and extent of these light, transparent forms. Both for enclosures and for indoor environments, novel products and assemblies allow for more glass and less opaque structure—often in places that previously limited their use.
Education Facilities | May 2, 2022
Texas School for the Deaf campus gateway enhances sense of belonging for deaf community
The recently completed Texas School for the Deaf Administration and Welcome Center and Early Learning Center, at the state’s oldest continuously operating public school, was designed to foster a sense of belonging for the deaf community.
