Preparing Our Schools for Success: White Plains High School focused on innovation

A mound of dirt surrounded by a large, mostly barren expanse may not look like much now, but it’s the signature capital project at White Plains High School – the future two-story Innovation Wing that will add around 50,000 square feet to the educational complex.

Principal Emerly Martinez this week provided a bird's-eye view of the dusty site, where the venerable Dammann House was demolished to make room for the new addition. The hub for Career Technical Education is slated to open in the fall of 2027 and feature a connecting bridge that will provide direct access to the main building.

“We’re going to have some innovative things in there so that’s how we came to call it the I Building – the Innovation Wing,” Mr. Martinez said Wednesday as workers were preparing the ground for the foundation. He said the second floor will house most of the school’s fine arts. 

“We will have a new, state-of-the-art photography room, dark room, a digital art classroom, ceramics and metal work classroom. We’re so excited our dance studio will be up there as well,” Mr. Martinez said.

The principal said there will be a culinary space on the first floor.

“What’s great about it is that with this idea of trying to give our students real-life learning, that culinary space is also going to be attached to a café and across from the café there will be an art gallery and a large presentation space that will house about 100 people,” he said.

Mr. Martinez noted that culinary students could eventually use the space to prepare and cater meals – potentially even serve lunch to staff in the space as part of a hospitality program. 

Also planned for the new wing are courses in information systems, cybersecurity and medical care as part of the project’s focus on enhancing CTE and preparing students for their future careers in high tech and various trades.

Life-skills apartments will be included for students with specialized learning needs who are gaining basic skills associated with day-to-day living.  

Both floors will also have a student commons area as well as general classroom space.

While the new wing is still about two years from officially opening, students returning for the new year will be greeted by a host of improvements that are funded by capital reserves for the 75-acre property, the principal pointed out.

“We started in the spring in the A Building courtyard – there’s a new shade structure that was finished right when school was ending. Landscaping will happen in the fall, as well as we’re getting some benches in that space,” he said.

“There’s also a major tile renovation in the two lobbies in the back of the building where students get dropped off – so in the auditorium side and the athletic side,” Mr. Martinez continued.

Several contractors were busy putting the finishing touches on tiles across a large swath, which head high school custodian Chris Wilkens said has been filled very quickly over just a few days.

Meanwhile, new bleachers also were installed in the north gym and the pool area.

“So now there’s a little more of a connection to our school colors. We went with black with a nice orange stripe. In the south gym, the floors were renovated as a result of water damage,” he said.

District Superintendent Dr. Joseph Ricca hailed the construction of the new addition as a terrific asset for students and a source of pride for the high school community.

"With a clear national and local need for a highly skilled and well-prepared workforce, the WPHS Innovation Wing will place White Plains High School at the forefront of public education in high-tech professional/vocational experiences, the arts, hospitality services, medical technical arts and life skills in general," Dr. Ricca said.

"The facility will feature comfortable learning spaces which will allow our students to pursue their interests in careers of choice within a facility that is specifically constructed to meet their needs. We look forward to completion in 2027-2028 when the addition is officially added to our already amazing high school facility," he added.

In 2022, voters approved the expenditure of $71.4 million for districtwide improvements taking place under Phase I at White Plains High School, Rochambeau Alternative High School and the elementary schools.

The district partnered with a team of architects from H2M and Triton Construction managers to develop the Long-Range Facilities Master Plan, which laid out its vision for the buildings and grounds.