Essex County West Caldwell School of Technology, Additions and Renovations

West Caldwell, New Jersey

Firm

Di Cara Rubino Architects

Client

Essex County Schools of Technology

Area

100,672 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$34,500,000

Completion Date

12/2020

Mike Van Tassell; Allison Sroka

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Design Team
Germano Rubino, AIA (Project Principal); Roderick Watkins, AIA (Senior Project Manager); Allison Sroka, AIA (Project Manager); Greg Kowtko (Job Captain); April Leddy, CID (Interior Designer); Jonathan Terrero (Construction Administrator)

West Caldwell Tech, originally a factory, was converted into a school in 1976. The district had done its best to repurpose the facility, but the spaces had become inadequate and outdated. It was ultimately determined that the most practical plan was to renovate and expand the existing building, including a new second floor in the front of the building.

Several new and expanded career and technical education spaces were created, including a cosmetology lab, agricultural science lab, graphics arts, automotive shop, music performance and production, and business technology. The construction and building trades department features a common construction area for carpentry, electrical and plumbing, and building construction technology. The culinary sciences department includes a teaching kitchen and bakery lab for culinary arts and chef training. Various other traditional program spaces were provided, including general academic classrooms, science labs, computer labs, and a media center.

A 3,600-square-foot environmental courtyard also was created to provide outdoor seating and teaching spaces, and to serve as a supplementary area for the agricultural science program.