Riverside School

Building Renovation Project

How was Riverside identified as a school in need of a renovation?

In 2018, Greenwich Public Schools issued a 15-year Facilities Master Plan for building maintenance and modernization after conducting a comprehensive assessment of its facilities. The study identified Riverside as one of three schools with the highest priority needs. Note: Renderings in the Facilities Master Plan are conceptual and may differ from actual results.

Building improvement projects at the two other high-priority schools – Old Greenwich, which is expected to break ground in Summer 2025, and Julian Curtiss – are now well underway, making Riverside School next in line for building upgrades.

Why is a renovation project at Riverside so important?

The Riverside School building is a 90-year-old neighborhood gem that, thanks to its quality pre-war construction, has good bones and a lot of character. However, the building has multiple longstanding issues that the renovation project is expected to address and remedy, such as:

For additional information about the building’s key issues, please see the handout we provided to local elected officials who attended the building tour we hosted in March 2024.

What are the key phases of a building renovation project?

The Riverside building renovation is expected to be a multi-year project that has the potential to be large in scope. The project will be broken into three phases: Feasibility, Design (also known as Architecture & Engineering or A&E for short), and Construction.

As of fiscal year 2025, Feasibility is the only phase of the Riverside renovation project that has been funded. Thus, funding from the town must be secured for Design and Construction during future budget cycles. The years in which funding is granted will determine the timing of this project. Funding for projects like this is often allocated during the town’s annual budget development process.

The first step of the project (feasibility) is slated to begin this fall

During feasibility, an architect is hired to conduct a study of the school building and work with a committee to develop educational specifications (Ed Specs).

The Ed Specs determine the scope of the project and lay out all the changes/improvements that will be made to the building. We expect that preservation of the building’s quality and character will also be factored into the Ed Specs.

To advance to the next phase of the project, the Ed Specs established by the Feasibility Committee must be approved by the Board of Education.

How can Riverside School parents get involved in the renovation project?

Currently, the best way to get involved is to stay informed by reading all updates from Dr. Jones, Principal Martín and the PTA. 

In the coming months and years, parents who believe that children in our community deserve a safe and accessible school that’s sized appropriately and equipped for modern learning will be called upon to advocate for approval of the Ed Specs and funding of design and construction.

The myriad voices of support from the Old Greenwich parent community were a key factor in the school securing the ~$43 million it needed to properly renovate and expand its building starting in Summer 2025. We expect the many voices within our parent community to play just as big a role in the success of the Riverside renovation project.

Advocacy will include writing to local officials (Board of Education, Board of Estimate & Taxation, First Selectman), attending or speaking at public hearings, and participating in local elections to vote for candidates who demonstrate support for the project.

Questions? Email riversideschoolrenovation@gmail.com.