With land donated by the state, New York City will build it's first green school in Battery Park City to ease overcrowding in Lower Manhattan schools and provide a healthy and sustainable environment for students.

The plan was announced by Governor Spitzer, Mayor Bloomberg, and Assembly Speaker Silver. The state is providing the last vacant building site in Battery Park City at no cost to the City to begin building the new school, and the City is building the new facility as part of a $13.1 billion capital plan to reduce classroom overcrowding and to modernize City schools.

Construction of the school will adhere to environmental guidelines that will make the school the first entirely “green” public school in New York City. The project will reduce operating costs, improve indoor air quality, conserve natural resources, and making the learning environment healthier and more comfortable.

The school will add 950 seats to serve pre-kindergarten through the eighth grades, and will also include 100 seats for special education students.