The Bronx STEAM Center has locked in a permanent home. The New York City School Construction Authority has signed a long-term lease for roughly 54,245 square feet across two floors at the Hutchinson Metro Center Atrium, pulling the career-focused high school program into Simone Development’s campus in the Pelham Bay section of the Bronx. The move gives the borough’s STEAM hub a far bigger footprint than its temporary Mercy University digs and, city and education officials say, room to train more students for in-demand healthcare and technology careers alongside industry partners.
Lease details and who signed
As reported by Connect CRE, Simone Development Companies confirmed that the New York City School Construction Authority inked a long-term lease to establish the Bronx STEAM Center in 54,245 square feet across two floors at the Metro Center Atrium. Joe Simone, president of Simone Development Companies, called bringing the Bronx STEAM Center to the campus “incredibly meaningful” for young people and for the borough, according to the outlet. The Atrium itself sits inside the broader Hutchinson Metro Center medical and office campus.
Programs and partners
The Bronx STEAM Center will offer career and technical education pathways in partnership with Montefiore Medical Center, including Certified Nursing Assistant, Certified Medical Assisting and Cybersecurity programs, according to NYC Public Schools. The program’s own site describes a shared-instruction model where 11th and 12th graders split their day between a home high school and the STEAM facility so they can pursue industry-aligned coursework and credentials. Officials say the Mercy University location has functioned as a pilot site while the permanent facility at Hutchinson is designed.
On-the-ground reaction
Teachers, students and administrators say the setup is already paying off. Principal Maha Hasen told News 12 Bronx that the program’s “deep-rooted partnership and community” helps keep classroom learning tightly aligned with what employers actually need. Students told the station they are walking out of high school with certifications that make them job-ready on day one.
Why the Hutchinson site matters
Program leaders say setting up shop at Simone Development’s Hutchinson Metro Center creates a ready-made ecosystem for work-based learning. Simone Development Companies describes the Metro Center Atrium as part of a multi-building campus and a 361,857-square-foot mixed-use complex that includes national and local retail and medical tenants, on-site management and more than 1,100 parking spaces. Being based there places students within reach of Montefiore and other nearby medical and office employers that can host internships and support credentialing.
Next steps and how students apply
Officials have not yet released a firm timeline for the Bronx STEAM Center’s move into the Atrium. A previous city announcement noted that the permanent space was still in the design phase. In the meantime, the STEAM Center continues to enroll 11th and 12th graders from partner high schools and outlines admissions steps on its own site. Program leaders say pairing classroom credentials with direct employer partnerships is meant to give Bronx students a faster path into living-wage jobs in healthcare and technology.
