KIPP Capital Region
NEW HIGH SCHOOL
KIPP Capital Region
New High School
- Client
KIPP Capital Region - Location
Albany, NY - Size
95,980 sq. ft. - Scope
Learning Stair, Cafeteria, Large Group Instruction, General Classrooms, Art and Music Classrooms, Science Labs, Innovation Labs, Gymnasium, Office Space, Student Support, Safety and Security -
Completion Date
August 2025
Within a few years, KIPP has grown from two to seven schools serving students across the Capital Region. To better support the growing KIPP community, CSArch led a planning study for a new high school in January 2021. After a survey to parents in the spring of 2023 revealed an overwhelmingly positive response to the possibility of a space for all KIPPsters in grades 9-12, the goal to create a KIPP High School became a sudden reality.
Since March 2023, CSArch has led the charge for the design and construction of the KIPP Capital High School on the site adjacent to the existing KIPP Tech Valley Primary and Middle School. Completed in August 2025, the new high school offers a safe, engaging, and innovative educational experience for all KIPPsters. With capacity for up to 800 students, the building includes general classrooms, art and music classrooms, science labs, computer, media and innovation labs, a large gymnasium and fitness center, student support suite, and administrative space.
“This building is the literal representation of creating the right conditions for genius to grow. It will most certainly be a school that is worthy of our brilliant students.”
Behind the Design | KIPP Capital High School
What does it take to bring a brand-new high school to life? Our architects, interior designers, and engineers share the story of designing KIPP Capital High School, a space built to inspire students and empower the next generation of leaders in Albany, NY. From early sketches to final details, go behind the scenes with the team making it happen.
Academics, Athletics, and Performance Spaces
Learning Staircase
Overlooking the cafeteria, the learning stair offers a casual space for dining, socializing, informal collaboartion, and provides extra seating during large events.
Cafeteria
The open cafeteria is the school's central hub, serving as both a dining area and a welcoming, flexible space for events, complete with a platform stage for speakers and performances.
Flexible Classrooms
The building's 21 general classrooms were designed with a variety of mobile furniture in lieu of fixed cabinetry to maximize flexibility.
Science Labs
Four science classrooms offer modern labs, each with direct access to prep and storage rooms.
Large Group Instruction
The LGI space was designed as a black box theater to offer a flexible, multi-purpose space, with telescoping seating for up to 350.
Gymnasium
A large gymnasium supports PE and athletic needs with bleachers for 600 and adjacent facilities including a fitness center, concessions, locker rooms, and nearby gender neautral changing space.
Flexibility, Support, and Operations
Music/Band Classroom
A large music and band classroom features an operable partition for flexible use as the school develops new program offerings, with adjacent rooms for instrument storage and student practice space.
Student Support Suite
The welcoming suite provides students with acccess to counseling services and includes a calming nook for quiet sensory breaks.
Administrative Offices
Various administrative offices are thoughtfully distributed throughout the building for natural supervision of corridors and common areas.
Bathrooms
Multi-stall bathrooms are open to the corridor, allowing safe supervision of students at the sink area while full-height partition doors ensure privacy. Each floor also has a single-user bathroom.
Safety & Security
Separate entrance vestibules distinguish student entry from visitor screening. A centrally located School Resource Officer station monitors activity and ensures quick access to various points of circulation.
Awards
Award of Excellence
Learning by Design
Spring 2026
Building brighter futures for our clients.
At CSArch, we deliver high-quality, specialized, multi-disciplinary service across architecture, engineering, interior design, and construction management. We’re able to assist with a wide range of building types and projects, so whether you need us to work on a school, firehouse, laboratory, or corporate building, we’re here to help.