SDA Awards Contract for Morgan Village Middle School in Camden

Trenton, NJ (December 17, 2008) - The New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) has awarded a $20,997,000 construction contract to Chanree Construction Company, Inc. to build Camden’s new Morgan Village Middle School, which will provide 21st century educational opportunities for 520 students in 6th through 8th grades.

The project, which will be completed in two phases, is estimated to generate about 200 construction jobs and numerous ancillary jobs in the local area. In the first phase, the new school will be built to replace the old middle school. The second phase, which will require procurement of a separate contract, will entail the demolition of the old school to provide for play areas and a parking lot. The second phase will begin after students occupy the new building.

The new 92,390-square-foot, 2-story middle school will be built on vacant land adjacent to the old school on Morgan Boulevard and Fairview Street in Camden. It will include general classrooms, special education rooms, science labs, school-to-career rooms with labs, small-group instruction areas, a library/media center, a cafeteria with kitchen, a gymnasium and an auditorium. The school is scheduled to open in September 2010.

Chanree Construction of Ortley Beach, was selected from among 6 firms that submitted bids December 16, 2008. Fletcher-Thompson Architecture Engineering is the design consultant for the project. URS Corporation is the construction manager for the SDA.

SDA CEO Kris Kolluri noted construction projects like the Morgan Village Middle School are key to Governor Corzine’s call for state agencies to invest capital in long-term infrastructure upgrades that stimulate economic growth and create living-wage jobs.

The SDA currently has 18 active construction projects in SDA (formerly Abbott) Districts, three active Demonstration Projects and seven ongoing projects in Regular Operating Districts (ROD). Overall the SDA has completed 585 projects: 44 new schools; 41 extensive additions, renovations and/or rehabilitations; three demonstration projects and nearly 400 other projects.