Health Sciences Charter School - Table of Contents ............... St. Vincent's Asylum - Table of Contents
Press Release - Health Sciences Charter School
1140 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, New York
Health Sciences Charter School - Official Website
The Health Sciences Charter School Opens 2011-12 Year in Architecturally Significant New Location in Buffalo
The Health Sciences Charter School (HSCS) will open the new academic year on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at a new location – a building designed and built in the 19th century that has undergone an extensive $5 million 21st century renovation.
The five-story brick and stone building at 1140 Ellicott Street (at Riley) in Buffalo, NY now becomes home to 207 HSCS freshmen and sophomores. HSCS will be operational as a full four-year high school with a total enrollment of 480 after new freshmen classes are added in 2012 and 2013. HSCS spent its inaugural year in 2010 at 169 Sheridan Parkside Drive, Tonawanda, NY.
“We are excited to welcome our students to this architecturally significant building that has been transformed into a state-of-the-art learning environment,” Dr. Hank Stopinski, principal, said. Designed by E.B. Green (Green and Wicks), the building has long been considered an architectural treasure with neo-Gothic, Classical and Renaissance details.
“Our school is proud to have brought the latest technology, safety and security systems, and new electrical, plumbing/HVAC installations, carpeting and furniture into this extraordinary space,” he said. “Brand new classrooms, science labs, a cafeteria and physical education and fitness areas bring a new purpose and energy to this storied building.”
HSCS is a school-to-work high school founded last year by leading area health care organizations. HSCS partners include BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, Catholic Health System, Community Health Center of Buffalo, Communications Workers of America, Erie Community College, Erie County Medical Center Corporation, Independent Health, Kaleida Health, and Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Applications to enroll
Dr. Stopinski pointed out that the new location will provide easy access for students to field trips, mentoring, real-work internships and service learning placements at partner facilities – a key component of the school – and at others, such as the University at Buffalo. Proximity to public transportation also will facilitate the students’ daily travel to and from school and their ability to participate in after-school activities.
“The primary purpose of the Health Sciences Charter School is to provide high school students with an academically challenging learning environment that will enable them to excel in higher education and to achieve quality, sustainable health care careers,” he said. The school offers math and science-focused studies. Academically talented students are encouraged to pursue careers in science and medicine.
Completed in 1899, the 1140 Ellicott Street building was constructed by craftsmen who did much of the work by hand. It housed a chapel, classrooms and dormitories for St. Vincent’s Female Orphanage Asylum. An estimated 10,000 young women resided and were educated there through 1948, when it closed. Bishop O’Hern High School was based in the building from 1952 through 1971. Erie Community College’s city campus operated there for 10 years, from 1971 to 1981. The building had been unoccupied since then.
While the first and second floor renovations are nearly complete, work will continue on the upper floors and on the gymnasium. Ellicott Development Company is the construction manager. Architects are Stieglitz Snyder, with Paul L. Battaglia as the project’s senior architect.
“Our students are the primary reason that our Board of Trustees decided to take advantage of the opportunity to relocate to this building,” Dr. Stopinski said. “We are certain that it will enhance the ability of our students and faculty to pursue academic excellence every day.”
The HSCS student body quickly will become a part of their new neighborhood by contributing community service on September 9, in commemoration of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Their teachers will join them to participate in beautification projects in the school vicinity.
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