Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein today announced that the first project being built by the new restructured School Construction Authority (SCA) is being done at a significantly reduced cost to taxpayers. Because of the merger of school construction responsibilities and operations announced last October, the most recent bid for construction of a New York City school has declined to $315 per square foot, a 29% reduction as compared to the last seven schools built by the SCA. The substantial reduction of school construction costs is fulfilling Mayor Bloomberg’s and Chancellor Klein’s pledge to decrease these costs made last October when the School Construction Authority merged with the construction functions of the Department of Education's Division of School Facilities (DSF).

SCA President William H. Goldstein, SCA Trustee Craig M. Hatkoff, President and CEO of the Building Trades Employers Association Louis J. Coletti, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York Edward J. Malloy and Vice President of Turner Construction Jim McKenna joined the Mayor and the Chancellor for the announcement at Queens Vocational High School in Long Island City.  Following a competitive bidding process, the SCA has awarded Turner Construction the contract for construction at Queens Vocational, the first high school to receive an addition under the current capital plan.

“During the campaign I promised that we would reduce the cost of building schools in New York City,” said Mayor Bloomberg.  “Today I am proud to announce that my administration is fulfilling that promise.  New York City schools are desperate for classroom seats.  Overcrowded classrooms burden teachers, frustrate parents and cheat our children out of the education they deserve.  By lowering the costs of construction and renovation through efficiency, we build more schools, create more seats and improve the education system in our City.”

“Last October, Mayor Bloomberg and I pledged to establish accountability and lower the cost of building our children's public schools by reforming the City's school construction process,” Chancellor Klein said.  “The building of the addition to Queens Vocational High School and the participation of Turner Construction demonstrate the rapid effectiveness of the reforms implemented at the SCA.  Today's announcement is the latest example of how we are fundamentally improving our City's educational system through Children First.”

The significant reduction in costs is a result of establishing one agency as accountable for school construction and renovations.  When the merge was announced, the goal was to decrease the price of construction from $438 per square foot to $325 or less per square foot.  The project announced today has surpassed the target by $10 per square foot.  In addition, the project at Queens Vocational High School will cost $127 less per square foot than the cost of the last seven schools ($442) built by
the SCA, a  reduction of 29%.

Since last year’s merger, the City has increased efficiency and accountability in school construction and repair by placing all capital planning, budgeting, and operations under the authority of the SCA, reducing costs and delays through the elimination of duplicative and redundant functions, lowering administrative overhead through the reduction of headcount, and improving the quality of design standards.  In addition, the City has eliminated business practices that discourage competition by streamlining the pre-qualification process and simplifying specifications while actively recruiting the best and largest construction firms in the City. 

The project at the 70-year old Queens Vocational High School consists of an 86,400 square foot addition to the school and selected capital work in the main building.  The new 650-seat addition includes new classrooms, library, gym, offices, shops, kitchen, cafeteria, two elevators, and an independent HVAC system.  The addition also includes four stories and a cellar fully aligned with the main building.  Work begins on the project in July and is scheduled for completion in September 2005.