The new multi-purpose building at the Urban Promise Academy consists of approximately 11,000 SF of new construction including a multi-purpose gymnasium with raised platform stage, office, conference room, equipment storage, rest rooms, a lobby, and art/music classrooms. The project is located within the Oakland Unified School District.

In the spring of 2007, the Oakland Unified School District's Board of Education passed a District Sustainability and High Performance Schools Resolution. A key component of this resolution is the requirement that all new school building projects in the district meet sustainability requirements defined by the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS).

The CHPS criteria are a flexible yardstick that allow project teams to implement sustainable design and construction practices based on their particular project opportunities and constraints. Like other green building rating systems, CHPS addresses a range of environmental and occupant health concerns. CHPS criteria include Sustainable Sites, Water, Energy, Materials, and Indoor Environmental Quality.