Board of Education tours Innovation Wing, sees future of student learning taking shape at WPHS

One year after breaking ground, members of the White Plains Board of Education got a firsthand look Thursday evening at the emerging Innovation Wing, the district's future hub for Career and Technical Education, the arts and collaborative learning at White Plains High School.

"This is the one-year anniversary of the groundbreaking ceremony," architect Joseph Ciserano, Studio Director with H2M Architects + Engineers, told the group at the site. "From a hole in the ground to a building that's well on its way to being completed, I think it's an excellent time to see it."

Also taking part in the 30-minute walk-through were Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Ricca, Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations Dr. Ann Vaccaro-Teich, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Debbie Hand and WPHS Assistant Principal Sara Hall.

The approximately 48,000-square-foot addition is the signature component of the district's voter-approved $71.4 million capital improvement program. The district partnered with H2M and Triton Construction to develop the Long-Range Facilities Master Plan, which laid out its vision for the buildings and grounds.

The Board has provided governance and oversight by approving the overall capital project, selecting the design team, authorizing contracts and expenditures and ensuring the project remains aligned with the district's educational vision and fiscal responsibilities.

As the hard hat-clad trustees navigated the structure on the sweltering evening, Mr. Ciserano highlighted the building's progress and explained how each area has been designed to support hands-on learning while providing flexibility for future educational programs.

The lower level will house expansive CTE classrooms, including specialized spaces for sports medicine, pharmacy technician studies and other programs developed in partnership with Southern Westchester BOCES.  

Mr. Ciserano pointed out the extensive mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems installed above the ceilings, noting that the freestanding addition has its own utility services while seamlessly integrating with the existing campus.

One of the building's signature architectural features is a glass-enclosed bridge connecting the Innovation Wing directly to the main school building.

"This is going to be a continuous corridor that connects seamlessly into the A Wing," Mr. Ciserano said. "Students and faculty will be able to move throughout the building without having to go outside."

Board members also toured what Mr. Ciserano described as one of his favorite spaces in the building — a bright collaboration area surrounded by art studios for photography, graphic arts, ceramics, metallurgy, robotics and other creative disciplines. The space will feature floor-to-ceiling windows, presentation areas, gallery walls and flexible furnishings designed to encourage collaboration among students.

The tour continued through the photography studio and darkroom, where specialized infrastructure has been incorporated to accommodate professional-grade equipment, before moving into the culinary arts training kitchen.

The commercial-style kitchen will feature several cooking stations with individual ventilation systems, a demonstration area, walk-in cooler and freezer, and direct connections to a student-run café that will simulate front-of-house restaurant operations. Nearby gallery space will showcase student artwork and projects.

Board members also visited a tiered presentation space designed for student presentations, study halls, community programs and future Board meetings. Equipped with integrated power and data connections, the flexible venue was intentionally positioned adjacent to the café and gallery to support evening events and public gatherings.

The tour concluded in the new life skills apartment, where students with specialized learning needs will practice everyday living skills in a realistic residential environment complete with a kitchen, living room, bedroom, bathroom and laundry area.

Construction on the high-tech hub continues to move steadily forward with completion expected in the fall of 2027. Principal Emerly Martinez, who gave a group of engineering teachers a tour recently, has said it is ahead of schedule. 

According to the district's July capital projects update, most of the building's mechanical, electrical and plumbing infrastructure has been installed.

Roofing is nearly complete, exterior curtain walls and finishes are progressing, and the building is expected to become weather-tight in the coming month before interior finish work accelerates. Major utility connections, including electric, water and gas service, are scheduled for this summer.

Veteran Board member Charlie Norris  said the project represents a transformational investment in students.

"So it's thrilling," Mr. Norris said. "This is something that's completely cutting edge. No one else has this. And we are going to be able to really help our kids meet a future that's just evolving now. And that's the most thrilling part of public education — that we can deliver for our kids."

Mr. Norris said Board members have remained closely involved throughout construction through regular public updates and presentations.

"We get updates periodically at our Board of Education meetings," he said. "If there are change orders happening, then H2M, the architects and the construction engineers, come and talk to us about what's going on.”

Mr. Ciserano was joined by three other H2M architects: Joseph Mottola, Chief Operating Officer; Robert Bee, Discipline Director for Education and Learning; and Niall Washburn, also a Studio Director.

As construction continues, the Innovation Wing is steadily evolving from blueprints into a dynamic learning environment that reflects the district's long-term commitment to preparing students for an ever-changing world.