Colonial Road Elementary School, Renovation and Addition

Franklin Lakes, New Jersey

Firm

Di Cara Rubino Architects

Client

Franklin Lakes Board of Education

Area

68,000 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$9,750,000

Completion Date

09/2004

The Colonial Road Elementary School project was the last of a series of school facilities upgrades planned in the Franklin Lakes School District over the last 15 years.
The school was closed and sold to the municipality in the late 1990s. The school district bought the school back from the borough in 2001. A referendum in April 2002 authorized a major addition and renovation for this “new” K-5 school.
Unique to the elementary school is a discovery science room containing exposed mechanical systems, creative and colorful lighting and ceilings, and a glass wall with a view into the corridor. The transformed building also has a new art room, two resource rooms, choral and instrumental music rooms, a lunchroom, special group-instruction room and administrative offices.
The building was transformed from its 1960s brick facade to a post-modern elementary school with stainless-steel panels, and curved metal panels and brick accent details. All of the building systems were modified, including the plumbing, HVAC, electrical and fire-alarm systems. The school also has ADA upgrades, a new parking and dropoff area, and play fields.