Tishman Construction to serve as construction manager for $100 million Promise Academy Charter School

Tishman Construction Corporation will serve as construction manager for Harlem Children's Zone's new $100 million Promise Academy Charter School and new community center at the St. Nicholas Houses in upper Manhattan. The 135,000 s/f facility will accommodate 1,300 students from kindergarten thru 12th grade and offer comprehensive student and adult services. Tishman Construction is part of AECOM Technology Corp., a Fortune 500 provider of professional technical and management support services for government and commercial clients in approximately 125 countries around the world. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development secretary Shaun Donovan, president and chief operating officer of the Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Gary Cohn, and New York City Housing Authority chairman (NYCHA) John Rhea recently joined Harlem Children's Zone (HCZ) leaders, including its president and CEO Geoffrey Canada, at the project's ground breaking ceremony. The facility is scheduled to open in time for the 2012-2013 school year. "We're very pleased to be working with the Harlem Children's Zone to once again build a facility that will enhance the quality of life for children and families in the community," said Daniel Tishman, chairman & CEO, Tishman Construction Corp. The new five-story school building will house a community center and the Harlem Children's Zone Promise Academy I, which is currently located at the Harlem Children's Zone's 125th St. headquarters and at PS 175 on West 134th St. The building will have more than 50 classrooms, a two-floor library, gymnasium/auditorium, large cafeteria/meeting room, fitness room, dance studio, music room, computer lab and three science labs. Funding for the school building was made possible, in part, by a $60 million grant from the New York City Department of Education's Charter Facilities Matching Grant Program, a $20 million gift from Goldman Sachs Gives and a $6-million gift from Google, Inc. The building's developer, Civic Builders, donated its $5 million development fee and the law firm Shearman & Sterling LLP provided pro bono legal services. The light-filled building, designed by John Ciardullo Associates, will be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Schools certified. As part of the project, Harlem Children's Zone will also upgrade the existing playgrounds in the housing development and plant new trees along 129th St.