Mayor Eric Adams, alongside key city officials including New York City School Construction Authority (SCA) President and CEO Nina Kubota, New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos, and Trust for Governors Island President and CEO Clare Newman, celebrated a significant milestone today with the groundbreaking of a major expansion for the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School on Governors Island.

This ambitious project aims to double the school’s campus size from two to four buildings and is designed to enhance educational opportunities for students pursuing careers in the green economy and maritime fields.

The expansion will feature new classrooms, a competition-sized pool, a gymnasium, and specialized laboratories that align with the school’s unique maritime and environmental curriculum.

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This initiative is part of Mayor Adams’ broader vision, termed the “Harbor of the Future,” which seeks to revitalize New York City’s waterfront as a hub for 21st-century innovation and job creation.

“We’re laser-focused on preparing young New Yorkers for good-paying jobs of the future, and this historic expansion of the Harbor School will allow us to do just that,” Mayor Adams stated. “The additional classroom and training space will help us ensure that our kids benefit from the 400,000 green jobs our city will host by 2040. Harbor School graduates will work on the wind turbines that will power 500,000 homes in our city, invent green technologies that we can’t even imagine yet, and more.”

First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer emphasized the significance of the location, saying, “From the New York Climate Exchange to the expansion of the Harbor School, Governors Island is proof of New York City’s leadership in climate technology and education. The Harbor School’s new facilities — and Governors Island more broadly — continue to showcase how education, research, and industrial development function together to bring good jobs to the five boroughs for the expanding climate tech industry.”

The expansion is expected to play a vital role in preparing students to become “climate change natives,” according to Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “Well, they’re going to be ‘climate change natives’ too — better prepared than any generation prior to take on the realities and challenges of climate change with the urgency it requires,” she noted. “Thanks to innovative partnerships like the Harbor School, which will soon accommodate more kids to learn in nature’s classroom.”

New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos expressed her enthusiasm for the project, stating, “The expansion of the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School represents a bold step forward in our mission to provide students with unique, hands-on educational experiences that prepare them for successful futures. By doubling the campus size and enhancing the school’s facilities, we are not only enriching the academic journey but also fostering the next generation of environmental leaders and maritime experts right here in New York City.”

SCA President and CEO Nina Kubota remarked, “We’re proud to improve and build on the original vision for the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School and look forward to seeing how the expanded campus will empower these exceptional students to learn and expand their environmental stewardship.”

The project has garnered support from various city officials, including New York City Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Andrew Kimball, who stated, “The Harbor School is one of the gems of New York City, providing top notch education and preparing our next generation of New Yorkers in important industries like maritime and the green economy. This expanded campus will build on the ongoing success of the Harbor School, and we look forward to these young people joining the workforce that will power our ‘Harbor of the Future’ and careers across the five boroughs.”

Trust for Governors Island President and CEO Clare Newman highlighted the transformative impact of the Harbor School, saying, “Today marks a truly exciting moment in New York City’s growth as a leader in climate solutions — over the past 14 years, thousands of young New Yorkers have had transformational educational experiences on Governors Island. We are proud to collaborate with our partners at the School Construction Authority and New York City Public Schools to develop these new, state-of-the-art facilities.”

The Harbor School aims to prepare students for careers in maritime and environmental fields through a college preparatory education rooted in New York City’s rich maritime history. The expansion will include a new state-of-the-art facility featuring a pool, gymnasium, and additional labs for career-technical training and research, alongside renovations to Building 555, a landmark structure from 1938.

This initiative aligns with the Adams administration’s ongoing efforts to develop New York Harbor as a cornerstone of the city’s green economy. With previous announcements including the establishment of the New York Climate Exchange and significant investments in climate innovation, the expansion of the Harbor School is a pivotal step toward cultivating a new generation of environmental leaders.

New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes praised the project, stating, “The Harbor School is a resource as unique and special as Governors Island itself. This new expansion gives students even more opportunities to learn, play sports, and study our city’s natural ecosystems in a one-of-kind environment.”

Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar added, “We are committed to opening all career paths for our children, and our historic expansion of the New York Harbor School will give us a new arsenal of tools to prepare them for good-paying maritime careers. We are charting a course to sustainable, innovative waterways addressing the needs of New Yorkers.”