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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.”

Stephanie Valle, CEO of KIPP Capital Region

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. 

Building Technology

Engineering Design

By integrating new chiller technology, displacement ventilation, distributed pumping, and heat pumps for combined heating and cooling, the entire building promotes decarbonization and enery efficiency through smart, practical design.

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.

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