White Plains board hears progress on high school Innovation Wing; SED approvals advance upgrades
Summary
Architects and construction managers told the White Plains City School District board that steel is up at the high school's Innovation Wing, several elementary renovation projects are entering closeout, and the State Education Department has approved an electric-service upgrade and Mamaroneck restrooms (targeted for summer 2026 bids).
Joseph Serrano, an H2M architect, and Chris Pearson of Triton Construction updated the White Plains City School District Board of Education on the district—s capital projects, saying visible steel at the high school innovation site signals a major milestone.
"We finally have some...visual to the high school edition. We had some steel going up this week, which is always a very exciting milestone to see a project come out of the ground," Serrano said, describing foundation and framing progress for the Innovation Wing. Pearson added that the project remains on track for substantial completion in mid-2027, subject to long-lead procurement of exterior and mechanical components.
The presentation listed several items already approved by the State Education Department: an electric-service upgrade for an administrative building and the remaining restroom renovations at Mamaroneck Elementary. Serrano said the restroom work is targeted for summer 2026 construction once bids are scheduled, while the electric upgrade is less constrained by summer-only work because the transformer is already on site and the district is coordinating a final Con Edison tie-in.
At the elementary level, Serrano and Pearson said renovation work at Church Street, George Washington, Mamaroneck and Ridgeway is substantially complete and in closeout phases with prime contractors. They noted specific infrastructure work—new HVAC units, roof replacements and a handicap-accessible lift at Mamaroneck—and showed recent construction photos of libraries and classroom work.
The architects outlined program elements for the Innovation Wing, calling out career and technical education, culinary arts, art and photography studios, a ceramics lab, metallurgy and STEAM spaces, plus flexible maker spaces and collaboration with BOCES to potentially expand CTE offerings.
Board members praised the cost savings that allowed the district to extend air conditioning and conditioning of gymnasiums and other secondary spaces at no additional borrowing, and asked that the administration firm up final numbers as closeout proceeds. The presenters said they would continue to coordinate schedules with the district, Triton and Con Edison and field follow-up questions.
The board did not take action beyond receiving the update; presenters offered to return with more detailed budgets and photographs as the projects advance.
