Old Building, New Purpose: Adaptive Reuse at Syracuse STEAM High School
For school districts considering how existing facilities, even historic ones, can support evolving educational programs, Syracuse STEAM High School offers an example of what is possible through adaptive reuse.
After sitting vacant in downtown Syracuse for nearly 50 years, the historic former Central Tech High School (also known as the Greystone Building) has reopened as Syracuse STEAM High School—Central New York’s first STEAM school.
Originally designed by renowned local architect Archimedes Russell in Neoclassical and Beaux-Arts styles and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the building required a thoughtful approach to balancing preservation with the needs of a modern learning environment. As lead architect and engineer for the adaptive reuse project, LaBella provided master planning, architectural and interior design, and civil and structural engineering services. Preservation efforts prioritized removing 1980s-era alterations, reestablishing school-programmed layouts, and restoring original woodwork and ornate interior details.
Within the building’s historic framework, the new school supports a rigorous academic curriculum focused on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. A robotics lab, emulated cleanroom, animation fabrication labs, sound studio, and the restored Lincoln Auditorium provide environments for hands-on learning and advanced technical training.
Syracuse STEAM High School serves students from the Syracuse City School District (SCSD) and Onondaga-Cortland-Madison Counties BOCES (OCM BOCES) component school districts. The $90 million project is a collaboration among Onondaga County, the City of Syracuse, SCSD, and OCM BOCES.
For districts evaluating aging, historic, or underused facilities, the project offers a broader lesson: with careful planning, adaptive reuse can preserve community history while creating spaces that support evolving educational models and expanding career pathways.
