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Culminating a process started around 2000, this project completed a long-term vision for a unique 7th-12th grade school district. Following the completion of their new middle school in 2003, the former middle school was repurposed as part of a multi-building high school campus, addressing the needs of an expanding student population and educational program. Initially, this configuration required high school students to move between two separate buildings multiple times a day, often exposed to adverse weather and safety risks.
Over the subsequent 15 years, continuous development focused on enhancing health, safety, security, core infrastructure, and academics. A significant improvement in safety and security was achieved by connecting the two main high school buildings, eliminating the need for students to traverse outdoors. A substantial new addition facilitated this integration, featuring centrally located administrative offices, a new main entrance, and a visitor screening vestibule. Health standards were elevated through campus-wide upgrades to HVAC systems and the establishment of a new health and training center.
Attention to core infrastructure led to the centralization and enhancement of key facilities, including a new library media center and cafeteria. These facilities are interconnected through an expansive double-height lobby, providing seamless access across the campus. Comprehensive upgrades were also made to electrical, utility, communication, and data systems.
The academic offerings are distinctive in this district, which serves both the adjacent Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and a broad agricultural community experiencing growth in enrollment. The school hosts specialized programs in Business, Industrial Design, Agricultural Mechanics, Graphic Design, Welding, Floral Design, and Agricultural Biology, which are uncommon in typical high schools but vital to this community. Further additions and renovations across the campus created specialized academic "houses" catering to both unique and traditional disciplines.
Additionally, the project necessitated the construction of a new state-of-the-art greenhouse, complete with areas for crop planting and animal maintenance, as well as a new tractor garage. Other site enhancements included new parking facilities and a bus queuing loop, complemented by improved site lighting.
Photo Credits: Matt Wargo Photography