Adam James Archives - School Construction News https://schoolconstructionnews.com Design - Construction - Operations Mon, 30 Nov -001 00:00:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.7.11 New Jersey School Hits Construction Milestone https://schoolconstructionnews.com/2015/04/29/new-jersey-school-hits-construction-milestone/ KEANSBURG, N.J. — Members of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA), alongside Keansburg School District officials recently celebrated an important milestone in the construction of the new Joseph C. Caruso Elementary School in Keansburg. On April 23, officials, stakeholders and students gathered for a beam signing ceremony highlighting the construction progress and leaving their mark on the new 122,000-square-foot facility.

The post New Jersey School Hits Construction Milestone appeared first on School Construction News.

]]>
KEANSBURG, N.J. — Members of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA), alongside Keansburg School District officials recently celebrated an important milestone in the construction of the new Joseph C. Caruso Elementary School in Keansburg. On April 23, officials, stakeholders and students gathered for a beam signing ceremony highlighting the construction progress and leaving their mark on the new 122,000-square-foot facility.

“Just a few months ago, we were in Keansburg to break ground for this project,” said SDA CEO Charles McKenna, in a statement. “As this new school continues to take shape and this signed beam becomes a permanent part of the structure, we are reaffirming this Administration’s commitment to providing the students of Keansburg with a state-of-the-art facility.”

The new Joseph C. Caruso Elementary School is the first new school in the area constructed by the SDA, and will stand on the same site as the former 58,000-square-foot school of the same name. It was designed to accommodate 750 K-4 students across 28 general use classrooms, eight kindergarten classrooms, self-contained special education classrooms, a modern media center, a gym and a new cafetorium — a facility that can serve as either a gym or an auditorium. The project also includes administrative and support facilities, as well as outdoor physical education and play areas and parking.

"The reality of the new Caruso Elementary School rising up fuels the hopes and dreams of all future generations in the Keansburg School District. It is with great excitement and anticipation that we look forward to our students having a 21st century facility to initiate their educational journey,” said Keansburg Superintendent Gerald North, in a statement.

Hall Construction Company Inc. of Howell, N.J. and Paulus, Sokolowski and Sartor, LLC of Warren, N.J. are collaborating on the design-build project, which is being managed by Joseph Jingoli & Sons of Lawrenceville, N.J. Current projections put the cost of the school at just less than $51 million, and construction completion is anticipated for late summer 2016.

Demolition on the original school facility was completed by Tricon Enterprises Inc. of Keyport, N.J. in June 2013. At that time, NJ.com reported that the work turned up an exciting find: a 91-year-old time capsule. The capsule revealed a December 1921 edition of the local Keansburg Beacon newspaper, as well as photographs and a program of the capsule’s dedication ceremony.

Officials broke ground on the school in mid December 2014. Construction is estimated to comprise $32.7 million of the total project cost.

Progress on the new elementary school can be viewed via webcam at http://oxblue.com/open/hallgc/caruso.

The post New Jersey School Hits Construction Milestone appeared first on School Construction News.

]]>
Trenton Central High School Slated for Reconstruction https://schoolconstructionnews.com/2014/01/29/trenton-central-high-school-slated-reconstruction/ TRENTON, N.J. — The aging and dilapidated Trenton Central High School is now on track for replacement. Gov. Chris Christie has given his support for the project, and was seconded by a unanimous vote from the Trenton School Board on Jan. 27.

The post Trenton Central High School Slated for Reconstruction appeared first on School Construction News.

]]>
TRENTON, N.J. — The aging and dilapidated Trenton Central High School is now on track for replacement. Gov. Chris Christie has given his support for the project, and was seconded by a unanimous vote from the Trenton School Board on Jan. 27.

"This is a great day for the capital city," said Assemblyman Reed Gusciora upon Christie’s announcement. "This is going to be part of the city’s renaissance, and this will convince a lot more students to stay in school."

The 82-year-old building will be replaced due in large part to recently appointed School Development Authority head Charles McKenna, who formerly served as Christie’s chief counsel. McKenna conducted a site visit of the school, where students dodge leaks and crumbling plaster and are unable to drink the murky brown tap water, just one day after assuming his new role. After speaking with students and witnessing termite-eaten floorboards and mold-covered walls, McKenna issued a statement declaring “there will be no more delays in getting the facility into the best possible condition.”

Amidst a throng of parents, educators and other supporters, McKenna presented the Trenton School Board with a four-year, $130 million design and construction outline. Members quickly voted to move forward with further planning to a chorus of cheers. Those plans will likely balance both the school’s historic status and its need to offer a safe, modern learning environment for students.

McKenna, who at one time also served as a janitor for the New York City Public Schools, particularly referenced the building’s red brick façade, entryway, auditorium and iconic clock tower, saying these historic areas “truly define” the school and should be preserved for future students. Meanwhile, most everything else will likely be demolished and rebuilt to modern standards and health codes. The current proposal outlines the construction of new heating and cooling systems, classrooms, more than two dozen new science and computer labs, and a host of vocational and instructional areas. A spacious media center and gymnasium will also likely be added to replace the much smaller existing facilities. A second vote on the project itself will take place at the board’s Feb. 5 meeting.

The local school district has multiple times demanded extensive repairs to Trenton Central High School, and officials have written the school up for well over 100 health and safety violations. Despite roof repairs, patching, painting, asbestos remediation and other renovations made as recently as the summer of 2013, the school still requires millions in repairs and upgrades. Principal Hope Grant has even likened the structure to “a ticking time bomb.” The SDA had announced plans to continue this work over the next two years, but school staff insists these band-aid repairs are not enough.

The final hurdle in approval is a green light from the School Development Authority (SDA), which has tabled earlier construction requests. However, McKenna is confident an approval will follow shortly, and according to Kristen MacLean, a spokesperson for the SDA, things are now moving very quickly. Following the SDA approval, students and staff will likely be moved to swing spaces or neighboring schools before the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year. Demolition crews will follow shortly after.

The post Trenton Central High School Slated for Reconstruction appeared first on School Construction News.

]]>