TRENTON, NJ –The New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) joined Perth Amboy School District leaders, students, state and local officials at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Rose M. Lopez Elementary School today, one of four new facilities opened by the SDA this September.

"SDA-constructed schools, like the Rose M. Lopez Elementary School, provide educational spaces and resources needed to enhance the educational opportunities for gene'rations of students," said Manuel Da Silva, SDA Interim CEO. "Today’s ribbon cutting ceremony affords us the opportunity to recognize the school district, state and local officials who partnered with us to make a positive impact in the lives of Perth Amboy students as we strive to address the overcrowding needs in the district."

The new Rose M. Lopez Elementary School is a 128,000 square-foot facility designed to educate approximately 800 students and is being utilized by the district for students in grades Kindergarten through second. The 3-story building was constructed on District-owned land and includes 38 classrooms, six Small Group Instruction Rooms, four Basic skills/ESL/Resource rooms, a Science Demonstration Room, a speech room, vocal and instrumental music rooms, a computer lab, a gymnasium, a media center, a cafeteria, a multipurpose room with stage, as well as outdoor play and learning areas.

"The opening of the New Rose M. Lopez Elementary School will provide students of the Perth Amboy Public School District access to a state-of-the-art educational facility that will provide exemplary resources to achieve greater standards of academic excellence," said Dr. David A. Roman, Superintendent of the Perth Amboy School District. "I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge all stakeholders who have worked collaboratively in helping to establish a vibrant educational facility supporting the academic and social and emotional development of our students."

As a result of SDA's commitment to building energy-efficient buildings that consider the surrounding environment, this school was built to be LEED (United States Green Building Council – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified. The SDA anticipates that the new Rose Lopez Elementary School building will achieve a LEED Silver certification.

The $56.4 million school was built using a design-build approach. This method differs from the traditional approach in that SDA contracts with one firm for both the design and construction of a school facility project. EPIC Management, Inc. was the design-build contractor, and worked in partnership with DIGroup Architects on the design. The project was managed by GREYHAWK North America, LLC.

The SDA has invested nearly $150 million in completed projects in Perth Amboy alone since the inception of the school construction program.