New York Construction Report staff writer
The Syracuse Science, Technology, Arts and Math High School – Central New York’s first regional technical high school is under construction in Syracuse, thanks to a $71 million state commitment.
Also announced at the groundbreaking ceremony; New York State and Micron will invest $4 million in the New York Advanced Technology Framework to help school districts in New York build their own curriculum in semi-conductors and high-tech manufacturing.
The Syracuse STEAM school will be the first regional technical high school in the newly rehabilitated Central Tech school building in Downtown Syracuse.
LaBella Associates designed the structure.
“Breaking ground on the Syracuse STEAM School is a massive step forward for our community, revitalizing the old Central Tech building and preparing our students to fill the high-tech jobs coming to our region,” said Syracuse City School District Superintendent Anthony Davis. “The future of Central New York starts with our young people and I thank Governor Hochul for the state’s commitment to Syracuse and our schools.”
More than $71 million has been awarded by the State for this project, along with Micron’s $10 million commitment to the school and other STEM-related K-12 programs as a part of the company’s Community Investment Framework with Empire State Development (ESD) and Amazon’s $1.75 million commitment.
It’s the latest announcement with funding for advanced manufacturing in Central New York. October marked the one-year anniversary of Micron’s historic investment of up to $100 billion over the next 20-plus years to build a megafab campus in Central New York.
In October 2023, Gov. Hochul unveiled plans for the $15 million, 5,000 square-foot Micron Cleanroom Simulation Lab at Onondaga Community College, which will help to train students in Central New York for jobs at Micron.
Micron has made significant investments that will benefit Central New York families, including $500,000 to the YMCA of Central New York to help expand access to high-quality child care and early learning for underserved communities in the region.
“Groundbreaking for the STEAM High School is more evidence of progress on the Syracuse Surge, our strategy for inclusive growth in the New Economy,” said Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh. “Transforming the long vacant Central Tech High School into a state-of-the-art regional learning center will help break down long standing educational barriers between urban and suburban school districts and ensure our young people are better prepared to capitalize on the career opportunities of the future right here in their own hometown.”