Civic Builders is currently designing a 125,000 square foot two-school facility at 900 Van Nest Avenue in the Bronx. This project represents the first time that a facility will be built to house both a charter school and a traditional Department of Education (NYC DOE) school with amenities shared by the two schools and the surrounding community. The small schools will stand side-by-side, each with their own entrances, classrooms, administrative offices, and cafeterias. A shared core, including a kitchen, an auditorium, a gymnasium, and a rooftop play area, will join the schools. Both the gymnasium and the rooftop play will be partitioned for simultaneous use by both schools. The project is the product of a groundbreaking strategic partnership between Civic Builders, the NYC DOE, and the School Construction Authority (SCA).
Community Need
This Bronx community – District 11 – suffers from intense academic and capacity needs. Many of its schools are overcrowded and underperforming. Recognizing the severity of the problem, the SCA made the district a priority in its capital plan. Moving on this, Civic spent a year working with community, local City Council, and Community Board members to gain the consent of the Mayor, the City Council, and the Community Board to develop a new educational facility for the neighborhood.
About Icahn Schools
The Carl C. Icahn Charter School Bronx North is a partner to the Carl C. Icahn Charter School, one of New York City's highest performing charter schools. In the 2006-2007 academic year, 100% of Carl C. Icahn Charter School sixth-graders met New York State's math learning standard. This is remarkable, particularly in light of the fact that only 45% of the host district's sixth graders met the standard. Like its counterpart, the Bronx North school will offer a rigorous program. Its mission is to use the Core Knowledge curriculum to provide students with an intense academic program offered in an extended day/year setting. The school will work to arm its students with the skills and knowledge to both participate successfully in the most rigorous academic environments and to have a sense of personal and community responsibility.
Statistics:
Carl C. Icahn Charter School Bronx North
900 Van Nest Avenue, Bronx
Total Square Footage: 35,000 Charter School,
90,000 NYC DOE school
Students at Scale: 324 Charter School,
550 NYC DOE
Project Status: In Development
Design by PKSB Architects, renderings by Leg3d Studios
Carl C. Icahn Charter School Bronx North - Before