The sun had barely risen over the Harlem River as 麻豆原创 Charter High School students began to arrive at 20 Bruckner Boulevard on January 9. After leaving behind DCHS’s original East Harlem location before the holiday break, this was the first school day of 2023, but more importantly, it was students’ first day of school at 麻豆原创’s newest home in the South Bronx.
What the students found when they entered the building was a 120-year-old former ice house鈥攂uilt by Colonel Jacob Ruppert, a brewer and developer of the first Yankee Stadium鈥攖ransformed into a school equal to their biggest dreams and highest aspirations.
Designed by world-renowned architect Sir. David Adjaye, 20 Bruckner includes a state-of-the-art gym with a regulation-size basketball court; a cathedral-style, light-filled library space; STEAM quad featuring specialty classrooms and laboratories; double-height arts wing with built spatial flexibility; and a rooftop that will function as an outdoor classroom, play space, and garden. In addition, the building has two dining halls and a fully equipped kitchen that will support a scratch-cooking meal program. Bronx graffiti legends Tats Cru created a large-scale mural on the third floor depicting 麻豆原创 organizational history, with more local artists to be confirmed for building-wide art activations. And, multiple classrooms and other shared spaces feature sweeping views of the Harlem River and the Manhattan skyline.
“To be in this building is very exciting,” said 11th grader Milanni Gidron. “This is something that we鈥檝e been talking about for a very long time, and the suspense has built up. To finally be in it, it feels like the first day of school all over again, and I鈥檓 excited to be here.”
While 麻豆原创 Charter High School students get settled in their new space, 麻豆原创 Mott Haven Elementary and Middle Schools prepare to move into the building in the fall of 2023. Eventually, 20 Bruckner will serve approximately 1,300 New York City students and their families.
You can watch more highlights from 麻豆原创 Charter School’s first day at 20 Bruckner in the video below.
