Our Buildings

One of the essential services BCF provides is the design, development, and construction of state of the art facilities for each of the Brighter Choice Foundation-affliated charter schools in Albany, as illustrated below:

Brighter Choice Charter School for Girls

Constructed in 2002, the Brighter Choice Charter School for Girls has been recognized for excellence in historic preservation by the Preservation League of New York as well as the Historic Albany Foundation. Formally Albany Public School 10, the facility at 250 Central Avenue was designed by well known Albany architect Albert Fuller and was originally constructed in 1890. The renovation and addition of the Brighter Choice Charter School for Girls has resulted in a total of 40,000 square feet of state of the art elementary school space on a main commercial thoroughfare in central Albany.

Brighter Choice Charter School for Girls

Brighter Choice Charter School for Boys

This former shirt factory, and later warehouse, was renovated and expanded, resulting in the 2007 completion of the new home for the Brighter Choice Charter School for Boys. The brick building was originally constructed in 1901, and when BCF purchased the building in 2005, it was serving as a warehouse and artist's loft space. The new building includes a conference and meeting space as well as regulation-sized elementary school gymnasium, in addition to permanent offices for the Brighter Choice Foundation.

Brighter Choice Charter School for Boys

KIPP Tech Valley Charter School

Completed in July 2005, the KIPP Tech Valley Charter School facility is located in Albany's Arbor Hill neighborhood. Brighter Choice Foundation constructed a brick, steel, and masonry building built to KIPP's specifications, which will eventually house approximately 300 students in grades 5-8. KIPP's facility includes a multi-purpose room for athletic contests and school gatherings and use as a school cafeteria. Additionally, on the second floor a KIPP "team and family room" was constructed for daily school meetings. KIPP's efficient facility will easily accommodate the school's growth to full enrollment in the years to come.

KIPP Tech Valley Charter School

Achievement Academy Charter School

The Achievement Academy Charter School was built in Albany's South End with construction wrapping up in the summer of 2006. Built to compliment the character of the surrounding residential neighborhood, Achievement Academy's wood frame construction serves the needs of the school well. The Achievement Academy building consists of approximately 35,000 square feet of program space including a media center, cafeteria, and full-size middle school gymnasium. Built in a only 16 weeks, the Achievement Academy project demonstrated well BCF's ability to deliver projects in rapid fashion when necessary.

Achievement Academy Charter School

Henry Johnson Charter School

Completed in August 2007, the Henry Johnson Charter School occupies the former site of Public School 3 on Watervliet Avenue on Albany's western edge. Henry Johnson Charter School is a renovation and addition project which eventually will house 375 students in grades K-4. BCF preserved as much of the historic character of Public School 3 as possible and included a gymnasium, media center, and cafeteria in the facility.

Henry Johnson Charter School

Green Tech High Charter School

Ground was broken on Green Tech High Charter School in May of 2007.  The facility, when completed in the summer 2008, will be 42,000 square feet and will include a full-sized competition high school gymnasium, cafeteria, science classrooms, and media center. Conveniently located across the street from KIPP Tech Valley Charter School in Albany's North End, Green Tech High Charter School will be ready to receive 75 ninth grade students in the fall of 2008. Ultimately, the school will house 360 students in grades nine through twelve.

Green Tech High Charter School

Albany Community Charter School

 Slated for completion in summer of 2008, the Albany Community Charter School building will be located adjacent to Krank Park in Albany’s south end.  The brand new 36,000 square foot building includes ample academic and administration program space, a full-sized gymnasium, a media center, and a cafeteria. Additionally the facility will be the site, we expect, for many community events to which our neighbors will be invited. The wood-framed building has been designed to complement the topography and architecture of the surrounding neighborhood.  The Albany Community Charter School sits on 12 acres of land, which was carefully engineered and redesigned to accommodate the construction of the school.