School Construction

NEW HAVEN SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM HISTORY – 1995 to 2018
New Haven operates the largest school construction program in the State, and the largest per capita in the country. Begun in 1995, the Citywide School Construction Program has evolved into a national model for its massive scope, innovative financing and high degree of community involvement.
From 1995 to 2018, 41 schools have been rebuilt (many with additions) or built brand new. They are listed on the gallery page. As of 2018, one more new school is in construction. These 41 school construction projects, all approved by the State of Connecticut and City of New Haven, will total $1.534 billion in a building investment by State and City taxpayers. As of 2017, four more projects are slated for applications and funding in future years to complete the School Construction Program. Approximately 4 million square feet of school buildings will have been impacted by the program by its end.
The buildings are designed to enhance the learning environment for students and staff alike – as noted in the 2008 Cambridge Report – and provide facilities that can be used year-round by the school and community. They also have been designed to implement the transition to pre-K-8 and K-8 schools, from the elementary and middle school model, and to provide smaller, themed high schools. By downsizing the enrollments at the middle school and high school level, there can be more of a focus on the individual student and a link with the student’s family.
Every school project has been designed with the assistance of a School-Based Building Advisory Committee (SBBAC), which includes school staff, parents, community members and the area alders of whom work with the architect and school construction staff to design a school that meets the State’s various standards, BOE requirements and the needs of the school and neighborhood. The individual SBBAC’s report to, and advise, the Citywide School Building Committee, which oversees the program.
Each school has unique features that preserve the history and character in its neighborhood, expand, and create new schools to make room for programming needs now and into the future, and above all else, put students and learning first. The renovated buildings have been fixtures in neighborhoods for many decades, going as far back as 1900, and their preservation has benefited the surrounding neighborhoods. Many schools incorporate facilities that benefit the neighborhood as well; virtually all have library/media centers, computer labs, cafeterias, gymnasiums and playgrounds; all are air conditioned; five have pools; many have fields where none previously existed. Fixed seat auditoriums have been renovated and are in use in schools throughout the City and other multi-purpose gathering spaces have been developed. Since the New Haven School District is the largest early childhood provider in the State, most schools have pre-K classrooms.
A standard for construction has been adopted and guidelines defined to ensure consistency and continuity across diverse construction projects. These guidelines include familiarizing design firms with program requirements on what needs to be provided for teachers and students in order to teach the defined curriculum. Material guidelines relate to New Haven's design requirements. Standard specifications were developed to ensure consistency in form and content between specifications of various architectural design professionals.
Energy efficiency is one of the most important priorities of the School Construction Program. The guidelines place particular emphasis on energy and indoor air quality performance and identify design tools and methodologies necessary to achieve an Energy Star Label for school buildings. In addition, the guidelines have meant that schools would meet LEED certification standards long before they became a State requirement (the School District has not pursued actual certification in most cases because of the cost entailed in obtaining certification). One school has been awarded a LEED Gold certification and many others could be EPA Energy Star certified and/or LEED Silver certified. The construction projects are overseen by a Commissioning Agent, which is an independent agent who reviews the methods and procedures used during design, construction, system startup, testing, and turnover for compliance with defined guidelines.
The school buildings set the stage for the many programs New Haven has put in place, including the diverse magnet schools and choices offered by all schools, the curriculum, and the reforms currently being implemented. They will serve the educational system for many decades to come.
 
# Projects (State Grant #)/ New or Renovation/ Completion Date
1 New Hill Career Regional Magnet High School N 1998
2 New Aquaculture Magnet (093-291) R 2003
3 Edgewood (093-292) R 1999
4 Clarence Rogers (093-293) R 2000
5 New Betsy Ross Arts Middle Magnet (093-307) N 2002
6 New John Daniels (093-306) N 2006
7 Wexler/Grant (093-314) R 2000
8 Lincoln Bassett (093-316) R 2000
9 West Hills/Conte (093-315) R 2000
10 Katherine Brennan (093-318) R 2001
11 New John Martinez (093-317) N 2004
12 Fair Haven K-8 (093-319) N 2004
13 Hillhouse High Phase 2 & Field House (093-326) R 2002
14 Wilbur Cross High Phase 2 (093-327) R 2003
15 New King/Robinson Magnet (093-329) N 2004
16 Nathan Hale (093-333) R 2003
17 Truman (093-335) R 2004
18 Ross-Woodward & Central Kitchen (093-332) R 2004
19 New Jepson Magnet (093-334) N 2007
20 Satellite Kitchens (093-346) R 2003
21 New Celentano (093-338) N 2005
22 Clinton (093-344) R 2005
23 Barnard Magnet (093-339) R 2006
24 Beecher (093-345) R 2006
25 Hooker Renovation (093-340) R 2006
26 Pardee Greenhouse Magnet (093-347) N 2006
27 Troup (093-343) R 2008
28 New Cooperative Arts High Magnet (093-341) N 2009
29 New Hooker (093-342) N 2009
30 New Christopher Columbus (093-348) N 2008
31 Sheridan Magnet (093-349) R 2009
32 New Bishop Woods (093-352) N 2009
33 Roberto Clemente (093-351) N 2010
34 New Metro Business Magnet (093-350) N 2010
35 Davis St. (Magnet) (093-354) N 2011
36 Hill Central Replacement (093-353) N 2012
37 New East Rock Community School (093-355) N 2013
38 Engineering & Science University Magnet (093-357) N 2017
39 Helene Grant / Dr. Mayo Early Learning Center (093-365) N 2016
40 New Haven Academy (093-364) R 2016
41 Bowen Field (093-267) R 2016
42 Strong 21st Century Communications Magnet & Lab School (093-368) N 2019