Executive Director and Principal Raymond J. Ankrum, Sr. ABD, political and community leaders, and representatives of the design and construction team of BBS Architects, Stalco Constriction, and School Construction Consultants (SCC) celebrated the opening of the new Riverhead Charter School (RCS).  Located at 3685 Middle Country Road in Calverton, N.Y., RCS is the only K-8 charter school in New York State’s Suffolk County.
Raymond Ankrum; John Galla, Legislative Aide to New York State Assembly Legislator Anthony H. Palumbo; John Stype, Legislative Aide to Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski; Town of Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter; Roger P. Smith, Principal, BBS Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers; Alan Nahmias, President of Stalco Construction; Will Recce, SCC Principal, and Richard R. Tortora, President of Capital Markets Advisors, led the ceremonies.
“Today’s celebration marks a new chapter in our school’s history.  The recent addition of two more grades to our academic program and a rapidly growing enrollment generated the need for a new, permanent home for our students.  I would like to thank the project team of BBS Architects, Stalco Construction, and SCC for their dedication, skill, and hard work that has resulted in the construction of this beautiful, modern educational facility,” said Executive Director and Principal Raymond J. Ankrum, Sr. ‘ABD’.  I would also like to thank the our financial advisor CMA, the Town of Riverhead, and the Riverhead fire protection, police, water, and other departments for their support of our school.”
“The $14.1-million, 50,000 sq. ft. school includes a two-story classroom wing with 16 classrooms, an auditorium/gymnasium, a library, an administration wing, and a kitchen wing,” explained Stalco President Alan Nahmias.
The project team for the $14.1-million building included Stalco Construction, general contractor; BBS Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers, architect, interior designer, site designer, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) engineer; SCC, construction manager; and PW Grosser Consulting, civil engineer.
The building is a response to RCS’ increasing enrollment and expansion of the school’s program from K-6 to K-8.  RCS’ current enrollment is 360 students and is expected to increase to 400 next year.  Established in 2001, RCS is a non-tuition public school of choice and serves families from 14 school districts.
BBS Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers – Headquartered in Patchogue, NY and established in 1975, BBS Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers is a leading Long Island and NY/NJ/CT Tri-state area designer of sustainable educational, commercial, institutional, public and athletic facilities.  The firm designed the first LEED-certified public school in New York State, the Hampton Bays Middle School in Hampton Bays, N.Y., which received a LEED Silver certification as well as the 2012 Green Ribbon School designation from the White House and the U.S. Department of Education.  Over the last decade, BBS has designed educational facilities valued at nearly $2 billion.  The firm’s services include architecture, interior design, and landscape architecture as well as civil, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering.
Stalco Construction, Inc. – Headquartered in Islandia, NY, with a regional office in New York City, Stalco Construction, Inc. is a full-service general contracting and construction management firm active in the Greater New York area and on Long Island.  Building Design & Construction magazine ranks Stalco as the 43^rd largest construction manager and the 93rd largest general contractor in the United States.
SCC Construction Consultants – Based in Hauppauge, N.Y., SCC was formed to provide professional and personalized construction management services for building projects.  It has served numerous educational, municipal, and religious organizations, as well as libraries, museums, and fire districts.  SCC is dedicated to supplying the most effective management techniques for the planning and construction of a project, from inception to completion, for the purpose of controlling time, cost and quality.  In addition, the firm’s three principals are licensed architects, and their continuous involvement with every project means that an experienced senior-level team is closely involved in the management of the entire project.