The new Riverhead Charter School at 3685 Middle Country Road in Calverton, NY, opened recently.
The $14.1 million, 50,000 s/f school includes a two-story classroom wing with 16 classrooms, an auditorium/gymnasium, library, administration wing, and a kitchen wing.
The project team for the building included Stalco Construction, general contractor; BBS Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers, architect, interior designer, site designer, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) engineer; SCC, construction manager; and PW Grosser Consulting, civil engineer.
The building is a response to RCS’ increasing enrollment and expansion of the school’s program from K-6 to K-8. RCS’ current enrollment is 360 students and is expected to increase to 400 next year.
The 5.8-acre site originally housed two conventional buildings and a modular classroom section. During construction, these three structures remain occupied, ensuring continuity of educational programs.
Following the completion of the new building, the modular classroom wing will be demolished and the two existing conventional buildings will be converted into storage and miscellaneous use spaces.
The new school building was financed through two bonds totaling $21.3 million.
Capital Markets Advisors (CMA) served as RCS’ independent financial advisor. According to CMA President, Richard R. Tortora, “Riverhead Charter School was the first charter school in New York State to receive an allocation form the federal Qualified School Construction Bond (QSCB) program, which provides tax incentives to investors in school construction bonds.”
RCS received a $5 million allocation.
The facility’s design follows New York State Department of Education spatial design guidelines, even though it is not specifically required to do so as a charter school.
This allows for larger, more flexible spaces that support the intended educational program.
