FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2026
Project Will Deliver 630 New Seats to Help Alleviate Overcrowding and Expand Career-Focused Learning Opportunities
The $48.4 Million Annex will be Ready for the 2027-2028 School Year
Rendering of Future John Bowne HS Annex
FLUSHING, NY – The New York City School Construction Authority (SCA) today celebrated the start of construction on the John Bowne High School Annex, a new 630-seat, four-story facility located at 146-50 Reeves Avenue in Flushing. The high school’s current enrollment of 2,782 has the existing building’s capacity at 122 percent. The new annex will relieve this overcrowding and expand educational opportunities for students in one of Queens’ growing communities.
The new annex will feature twenty standard education classrooms, two special education classrooms, and specialized instructional spaces including a state-of-the-art Healthcare/Nursing Laboratory and a Culinary Arts Laboratory. The building will also include administrative offices, student and staff restrooms, custodial and storage spaces, and other essential student support areas.
In keeping with the SCA’s commitment to environmentally responsible design, the annex will include a sustainable green roof to improve stormwater management and enhance energy efficiency.
“The start of construction on the John Bowne High School Annex marks an important investment in the future of Queens students and families,” said Nina Kubota, President and CEO of the New York City School Construction Authority. “This new 630-seat facility will not only help alleviate overcrowding, but will also provide modern, specialized learning environments — including healthcare and culinary arts labs — that prepare students for college and careers. With sustainable features like a green roof and thoughtfully designed instructional and support spaces, we are creating a high-quality, 21st century learning environment that will serve this community for decades to come.”
The annex has been carefully designed to meet the needs of today’s students and educators, providing flexible instructional spaces and dedicated areas that support both academic and career-focused programming. The inclusion of specialized labs will expand hands-on learning opportunities and strengthen pathways to high-demand industries.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. said: “Every Queens student deserves to learn in a comfortable environment that sets them up for success. But for generations, our kids have been made to learn in cramped, overcrowded schools that degrades their educational experience. Those days, however, are coming to an end. This state-of-the-art, 630-seat annex at the historically overcrowded John Bowne High School represents yet another tremendous step forward in our efforts to create more school seats and better meet the needs of our students. Thank you to the School Construction Authority for its continued partnership, as we build more seats in Queens than any other borough.”
U.S. Representative Grace Meng said: “This new annex will greatly benefit students at John Bowne High School by reducing overcrowding and enhancing the school’s learning environment. The building’s new classrooms, labs and other additional spaces will go a long way towards helping students excel in their education and receive more opportunities and support. Our young people are our future. We must make the investments they require to ensure their success.”
Council Member James F. Gennaro said: “This is welcome news for the entire John Bowne community and for families across my district. With the school currently operating well beyond capacity, the addition of this annex will help relieve overcrowding and ensure students have the space and resources they need to thrive. I am especially pleased to see that the project incorporates sustainable features like a green roof, which will help manage stormwater and improve energy efficiency. As Chair of the New York Council’s Committee on Environmental Protection & Waterfronts, I strongly support investments that both strengthen our schools and advance green infrastructure.”
State Senator John Liu and chairperson of the Senate Committee on NYC Education said: “For decades, too many high schools in Queens and across New York City have been forced to operate beyond capacity because the need to reduce excessively large classes was never treated as an urgent priority. This new annex will go a long way toward improving the quality of student learning and ensuring all students have access to a sound, basic education. Many thanks to Principal Iannelli and all the students, teachers, parents, and staff who have advocated for this annex and worked to make this important investment in our children’s future a reality.”
Assembly Member Sam Berger said: “John Bowne High School is a remarkable school serving the 27th District and beyond, and we can always use more space to educate the next generation. This new annex will relieve overcrowding, help meet class size requirements, and give students the room they need to excel.”
Queens North High Schools Superintendent Hoa Tu said: “The John Bowne High School Annex expands the horizons for our students in the heart of Queens. This annex represents our commitment to increasing access to Bowne's diverse education programs, as diverse as the borough we call home, including a CTE Law program (first in the City) and a fully functional urban farm. Whether our students are preparing to argue in a courtroom or pioneering sustainable agriculture in an urban landscape, they now have a state-of-the-art space to cultivate their passions. We are growing leaders, growing food, and growing the future of New York City, right here in Flushing.”
Principal Laura Iannelli said: “The start of construction on this annex marks a transformative moment for the John Bowne High School community. We are incredibly grateful for this investment, which does more than just add seats—it adds possibilities. By bringing state-of-the-art Healthcare and Culinary Arts laboratories to our campus, we are ensuring our students have the 21st-century tools they need to lead and succeed in high-demand careers. I am particularly excited about how these new facilities will bridge our historic agriculture program with our future culinary arts laboratory. By allowing students to bring the products they’ve grown and harvested directly into a professional-grade kitchen, we are creating a unique, hands-on learning experience that few schools in the nation can match. It is an exciting day for our students, our staff, and the future of John Bowne High School."
Construction on the new annex began in January after six Temporary Classroom Units (TCUs) were removed in 2025. Construction will be managed to minimize disruption to the existing school community. The project team includes Plaza Construction LLC and PKSB Architects, P.C., who led design efforts. NYC School Construction Authority's Public Art for Public Schools has also commissioned Adam de Boer to create a site-specific artwork for the Annex lobby. “May on Main” is a colorful series of four paintings that capture iconic views, from Kew Gardens to Flushing, along Main Street.
SCA continues to deliver new seats for Queens. In 2025, SCA openings included:
• Queens Innovation Center, 53-16 Northern Blvd. – 3,066 seats
• P.S. 26 Addition, 195-02 69 Ave. – 399 seats
• P.S. 160 Addition, 145-14 Glassboro Ave. – 354 seats
• Q509 Lease Renovation, 101-11 104 St. – 229 seats
• P.S. 182 Annex, 88-13 Parsons Blvd. – 100 seats
• Far Rockaway High School room conversion, 8-21 Beach 25 St. – 59 seats
• Elmhurst Educational Campus room conversion, 45-10 94 St. – 50 seats
The 2026-2027 school year will mark the addition of another 2,600 new seats with two new schools, three additions, and four room conversion projects throughout the borough.
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