Sara M. Gilmore Academy

Union City, New Jersey

Firm

Mount Vernon Group Architects

Client

Union City Board of Education

Area

75,700 sq.ft.

Completion Date

09/2017

Brett Beyer

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Design Team: Arnel Catalan, AIA, CSI, LEED AP BD+C; Dennis Daly, AIA; Susan Taylor, NCIDQ; Adolfo Cuevas, AIA, LEED AP; Erik Wood; Luis Ascensao; David Turcotte

The Gilmore Academy consists of an addition and renovations to a public-school built in 1899. It has 500 students in grades K-8. Renovations include complete reconstruction of the interior and restoration of the exterior “Schoolhouse Romanesque” facility. This includes terracotta embossments, decorative stone inlays, handcrafted tin overhangs and dentils.

The Gilmore School was designed to meet LEED Gold standards. Some sustainable features are the 100kW photovoltaic system; highly efficient plumbing fixtures; energy-saving lighting, power and HVAC systems. During construction, 94% of construction and demolition waste was diverted to recycling stations; 23% recycled materials and 23.5% regional materials were installed. A kiosk displaying the facility’s energy consumption is used as an educational tool to inform students and the community about the conservation measures employed within the facility.

The addition houses a 288-seat off-Broadway-style theater, part of the city’s theater arts magnet program. Also included is a new gymnasium, cafeteria with a full-service kitchen, media center, administrative spaces, and greenhouse with rooftop growing area. Community access to the library, gymnasium, and performing arts center provides public amenities.