Paterson, NJ – The New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) joined Paterson School District officials, students, state and local officials today to break ground for the new Middle School at Union Avenue. Once completed, the school will be the seventh new facility built by the SDA in Paterson.

"Today's ceremony marks the significant milestone in the construction of this important project for the Paterson community," said SDA Interim CEO Manuel Da Silva. "As we break ground for the new Middle School, this community can envision the state-of-the-art facility that will rise on this site and will provide Paterson students with the inviting educational spaces and tools that will help them succeed. We look forward to our continued partnership with the Paterson School District and local stakeholders as we advance this significant project."

The new Middle School at Union Ave will be an approximately 163,000 square-foot facility designed to educate a maximum of 1,100 students in grades six to eight. The school will include 36 classrooms, six Small Group Instruction Rooms, nine science labs, an aquaponics lab, a vocal and instrumental lab, a computer lab, a gymnasium, a media center, a cafeteria with stage, and three art rooms. The facility is currently scheduled to open to students in September 2021.

"I want to thank Manuel Da Silva and everyone on his team for their commitment to Paterson Public Schools, our students and their families," said Superintendent Eileen Shafer. "With this groundbreaking today, we celebrate more than the construction of a much-needed public school building. We celebrate the continuing partnership between the Paterson Public School District and the New Jersey Schools Development Authority, and our joint commitment to the students and families of Paterson."

The school is being built using the design-build approach. This method differs from the traditional approach in that SDA contracts with one firm for both design and construction of a school facilities project. The design-build method also allows for some design and construction activities to proceed concurrently through phased advancement, an approach that potentially allows for improvement upon the original overall schedule.

EPIC Management of Piscataway was awarded a $57.9 million design-build contract for the design and construction of the school. As part of the design-build contract, EPIC Management is working with DMR Architects on the design. Anser Advisory is managing the project. The total estimated project cost is $113.9 million. The total estimated project cost includes the purchase of the Paterson Catholic High School facility. Upon completion of the Union Ave MS, it is expected that the former Paterson Catholic H.S. will serve as a permanent District facility to assist in alleviating remaining district-wide overcrowding.

The project also included the demolition of the former Don Bosco School, a facility that served as swing space while the SDA constructed other new facilities in the District. That work was completed by Tricon Enterprises, Inc.

The SDA has invested more than $400 million in completed projects in Paterson alone since the inception of the school construction program. Its current portfolio of active projects is valued at approximately $2 billion – including the Capital Project portfolio, emergent projects, and Regular Operating District grants.