UNION CITY, N.J.—Personnel from the New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) joined civic officials for the groundbreaking of a new school that, when completed, will be used to educate students in grades 7 through 9. The school is needed due to overcrowding in this city located across the Hudson River from Manhattan.

The to-be-named school will encompass approximately 132,000 square feet of educational space over its six stories. Nearly 1,000 students will be educated in traditional classrooms as well as science laboratories, art rooms, robotics lab, music room, dance studio and even a rooftop environmental lab. The school will also host a gymnasium, cafetorium and modern media center.

Dobco, Inc. is tackling the design-build contract for the new school. Their partners on the job include designer NK Architects, P.A. and manager Anser Advisory. The project is seeking to attain LEED Silver certification.

“As we stand alongside our partners today, together we break ground for a state-of-the-art school that will provide Union City students with an educational facility that will help prepare them for high school and the future,” SDA CEO Manuel Da Silva said during the groundbreaking. “The new and renovated facilities delivered by the SDA in communities such as Union City are vital to ensuring all New Jersey students have access to the resources needed to succeed.

“We look forward to our continued partnership with the school district, city, and construction partners as this project advances through the construction phase.”

When the school opens, it will be the sixth Capital Project completed by the SDA in Union City since the school construction program commenced.

“With the help and support of Governor [Phil] Murphy and our Mayor and State Senator Brian P. Stack, we are honored that this SDA-funded new school facility will provide highquality education for future generations of our Union City students,” added Silvia Abbato, Superintendent of Union City Schools.

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