Nine new, state-of-the-art school buildings open in Brooklyn

Eight schools plus a long-awaited STEM lab

September 5, 2024 Mary Frost

District 13 STEM Center at One Clinton. Rendering: School Construction Authority

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BROOKLYN — Brooklyn students are headed back to school Thursday, and many are attending class in brand-new school buildings.

Mayor Eric Adams, Public Schools Chancellor David Banks and School Construction Authority President/CEO Nina Kubota formally announced all 24 new school facilities citywide at an event Wednesday. These include nine in Brooklyn, eight in the Bronx, six in Queens and one in Manhattan. The buildings will provide almost 11,000 additional seats, Adams said.

P.S. 413, the Joanne Seminara School of Law and Medicine at 280 Senator St. Rendering: School Construction Authority

The new buildings bring modern and flexible spaces, state-of-the-art technology, science labs, music rooms, sensory gyms and more to rapidly growing areas like Brooklyn’s District 20, which includes Bay Ridge, Borough Park and part of Sunset Park.

P.S. 253 addition at 601 Ocean View Ave. Rendering: School Construction Authority

Kubota said the projects underscore the SCA’s dedication to “providing equitable access to quality education” for all of the city’s children.

M.S. 407, the School of Technology, Arts and Research at 650 80th St. Rendering: School Construction Authority

One of Brooklyn’s nine new facilities is a 9,000-square-foot STEM lab located on the edge of Brooklyn Heights and Downtown Brooklyn in the One Clinton building. The lab, which will serve all District 13 students, was included in the hard-fought Brooklyn Heights Library deal brokered by Councilmember Stephen Levin in 2016.

P.S. 321 Annex at 763 President St. Rendering: School Construction Authority

“This has been a very big year for us,” SCA spokesperson Kevin Ortiz told the Brooklyn Eagle. “Including the new STEM Center, we have nine new buildings in Brooklyn, and we look forward to adding capacity in Brooklyn with our new [2025-2029] capital plan.

P.S. 464 at 1514 72nd St. Rendering: School Construction Authority

With real estate at a premium, the SCA needs to be creative to make the most use of the space available, Ortiz said. “This year we’ve got spaces in school ranging anywhere from 806 seats [at Pacific Park in Downtown Brooklyn] to 132 seats for a District 75 school in Brooklyn on 72nd Street.”

Pacific Park Campus at 491 Dean St. Rendering: School Construction Authority

The new STEM lab is a prime example of the agency “working together on a mixed-use site that will be beneficial to kids in the district,” he added.

P.S. 313, The Detective Wenjian Liu School of Civics and Entrepreneurship at 6312 13th Ave. Rendering: School Construction Authority

At Wednesday’s announcement, Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi called 2024 “a banner year” for school development. “With environments and furniture specially designed for kids, welcoming back-of-house spaces for teachers and staff, and even a farm, these buildings support not only kids’ social and emotional growth but whole ecosystems.”

P.S. 373 Brooklyn Transition Center @ H594K at 561 Grand Ave. Rendering: School Construction Authority

Brooklyn’s new school buildings include:

P.S. 413 – Joanne Seminara School of Law and Medicine at 280 Senator St., District 20 (307 seats)
P.S. 253 addition at 601 Ocean View Ave., District 21 (391 seats)
M.S. 407, School of Technology, Arts and Research at 650 80th St., District 20 (475 seats)
P.S. 321 Annex at 763 President St., District 15 (451 seats)
P.S. 464 at 1514 72nd St., District 20/75 (132 seats)
Pacific Park Campus at 491 Dean St., District 13 (806 M.S. seats)
P.S. 313, The Detective Wenjian Liu School of Civics and Entrepreneurship at 6312 13th Ave., District 20 (547 seats)
District 13 STEM Center at One Clinton, District 13 (Districtwide)
P.S. 373 Brooklyn Transition Center @ H594K at 561 Grand Ave., District 13/75 (195 seats)