NYC School Construction Authority Breaks Ground On New Addition For P.S. 87 In The Bronx

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Published on November 23, 2021, 4:54 pm
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New York City School Construction Authority (SCA) President and CEO Nina Kubota was joined today by NYC Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter, New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, State Senator Jamaal Bailey, Borough President Ruben Diaz, Council Member Kevin Riley, education officials, and community members to celebrate the start of construction of a state-of-the-art, 412-seat addition for P.S. 87 in the Wakefield section of the Bronx.

The addition will be built adjacent to the existing school building after the SCA completed the demolition of four Transportable Classroom Units (TCUs) at the site. The addition is part of the SCA and DOE’s commitment to address new seat demand in District 11 as a result of various redevelopment projects in the area.

The new, 4-story school building will be a fully air-conditioned, accessible facility for pre-k through grade 5 students and will contain four pre-kindergarten classrooms, five kindergarten classrooms, eight standard classrooms, two district special education classrooms, and a reading and speech resource room. The addition will also include a gymatorium, music room, art room, library, and a new student cafeteria.

“This school was designed with both students and teachers in mind to maximize learning by providing students with the technology, facilities and resources they need to succeed,” said Nina Kubota, President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York City School Construction Authority. “Today’s groundbreaking marks the next step in bringing more than 3,100 new seats to District 11, another example of how government agencies, community leaders, and elected officials can get together to deliver the framework for enhanced educational services for our kids.”

Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter said, “This incredible addition to P.S. 87 is an investment in each and every one of our students’ futures and will provide them with the resources to pursue their dreams. Thank you to our partners at the School Construction Authority and to our families, community members and elected officials for helping us bring this state-of-the-art facility to life for our young people.”

Other amenities at the school will include:

  • Bicycle Storage
  • Full Kitchen Complex;
  • Guidance Suite;
  • Medical Suite;
  • Administration Suite;
  • Staff Lunch / Conference Room;
  • Parents/Community Room.

A $54.8 million contract, awarded to Technico Construction Services, Inc., for the addition also includes renovations to the existing school building. The addition is expected to be ready for occupancy for the start of the 2024-2025 school year. The SCA’s 2020-2024 Capital Program includes nearly $1.6 billion in funding for 21 buildings adding 11,983 seats in the Bronx. The SCA has removed or is in the process of removing 80 of the 86 TCUs in the borough.

Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie said, “Today’s groundbreaking is a step in the right direction not only for the Bronx, but for our public education system. The new addition to P.S. 87 will open an additional 3,000 seats for our students. As we move forward with this project, it illustrates that when we work together to deliver on the needs of our families, students and teachers, we are ensuring their safety and providing them with the tools needed to succeed. Thank you to the SCA, DOE, NYC Chancellor Meisha Porter and all the elected officials that made this a reality.”

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. said, “As we prepare our students for college and the workforce, it is incumbent on all of us to ensure they have the best opportunities possible within their school walls. The groundbreaking of P.S. 87 in the Wakefield section of the Bronx is a tremendous step towards bringing needed resources for our students. I thank everyone who has made this possible.”

Principal Dr. Disha Charles said, “The Public School 87 community is excited about our building addition. As a school community, we commit to teaching with Passion, Responsibility, Imagination, Dedication, and Empathy. We are eager to grow, not just in physical size, but in our ability to provide our students with rigorous and culturally responsive learning experiences, as we strive to prepare them for the next chapter of their educational journey.”

As part of the SCA’s Public Art for Public Schools program, there will be an artist commissioned to create site-specific artwork for the addition. For additional information on the New York City School Authority, please visit here.

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