INSTITUTIONAL PROJECTS

 
River Barge Park Phase II

Carlstadt, NJ

Phase two of the project will focus on land improvements at the riverbank site, as phase one was water-related work. It will include landscaping work, construction of a winter boat storage house, plus a pavilion for educational programs, promenade above the riverbank and parking area.

The NJMC plans all of its projects with the environment in mind, and River Barge Park will be no different. The commission has already installed a solar-powered water-monitoring device at the marina as part of phase one. The remote device allows scientists and naturalists at the commission’s headquarters in Lyndhurst to monitor salinity, temperature and dissolved oxygen in the Hackensack River via satellite.

Phase two promises a thatch-roofed pavilion made of old-growth pine wood, recycled from the Barge Club demolition.

Commission officials said they look forward to the park’s opening, eagerly awaiting droves of visitors. Officials have no doubt that interest in the park will be immediate and overflowing, as it boasts Bergen County’s first boat launch to the Hackensack in decades.

The NJMC installed the 100-foot-wide boat launch during phase one, as well as a lowered dock for canoe and skull use. There will not be a fee for launching, either, as the impetus for the project is public use. The site is intended for people to visit and experience the Hackensack River.

For this eco-friendly agency, awareness is foremost important. “One of the commission’s goals is to raise awareness of the natural beauty of the Meadowlands and the recovery of its ecosystem,” said Brian Aberback, NJMC spokesman. “By increasing public access to the Hackensack River, River Barge Park will enable residents in the Meadowlands District and beyond to further enjoy the natural environment in their backyard.”

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Senior and Transportation Center

Monroe Township, NJ

This new senior and transportation center is a modern 27,000 SF one story building with a mezzanine and attached transportation center with a covered drop off area sitting on a beautifully landscaped 17 acre property. The site features paved access roadways, four paved and fully illuminated parking lot areas, and two covered busports. It is accentuated by a gazebo overlooking a pond and a pedestrian bridge. For the active seniors the site contains bocce and shuffleboard courts.

The building, designed to meet the needs of senior citizens, is highlighted by cultured stone and stucco façade and a pergola covered pavilion facing the scenic grounds. Large windows provide an abundance of natural light while amenities such as fireplaces offer a welcoming atmosphere. The facility, designed to offer multiple options, includes three spacious rooms with partitions for expanded or individual use, a stage with rehearsal area and dressing rooms, art and computer rooms, a full kitchen with servery and café and a lounge among other amenities.

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Bergen Community College
, Paramus, NJ

Bergen Community College-Student Center renovation- The project will create a new hub for students to gather between classes, conduct club meetings, and participate in activities in a modern, comfortable and efficient space. The renovation area of the Student Center encompasses approximately 16, 738 square feet and Student Center additions will impact approximately 7,556 square feet. The new student center will include the following; Expanded lower level Café seating area ,relocate and expand the Dunkin Donuts facilities, new restrooms, update the hallways and ramps to allow access by handicapped students and new Public Safety satellite office area.

The Student Center Renovation project will utilize green technologies and conservation practices including a green roof, energy efficient light fixtures and water saving devices in restrooms. The project will also incorporate energy-saving concepts from Leadership in Energy and Environment Design, an internationally recognized building certification system. The architect on ths job is DMR Architects.

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Middlesex County College
, Edison, NJ

Middlesex County College- Crabiel Hall -Named for the late freeholder director, David B. Crabiel, this building will be 36,000-square-feet and will house 13 classrooms, state-of-the-art computer labs, a culinary demonstration kitchen and a conference center.

Crabiel Hall is being completed in accordance with the LEEDS Green Building Rating System and is expected to obtain a Silver rating. A good portion of the components used in construction of the building will be made with recycled materials, and we have a goal of recycling 80 percent of the construction waste. Other environmentally friendly features include an HVAC system with a heat-recovery process and on-demand ventilation. Crabiel Hall will have sensors that turn off lights when the room is unoccupied and the parking area nearby will have recharging stations for electric vehicles.

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Firefighter's Memorial Park
, Union City, NJ

Firefighter's Memorial Park is dedicated to local firefighters who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty, and a granite monument in their honor graces the front entranceway. The series of pools within the park includes the main pool, a wading pool with water features and a separate water play area. The park also has a beautifully landscaped walkway that leads to a gazebo area with breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline.

Simply put, the end result is an architectural and engineering marvel. Perched atop the cliffs of the Palisades, half of the park is situated on the existing grade, with the other half built on a platform supported by steel columns that hovers above a 70-foot cliff parallel to the Hoboken Viaduct below.


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Plainsboro Library
, Plainsboro, NJ

The Plainsboro Library is a state of the art 46,500 square foot (3) story facility. It showcases a modern blend of building materials such as brick, calcium silicate, natural stone, EIFS, and multi-story curtainwall.

The heart of the building is a multi story open reading area that showcases exposed structural steel for a contemporary look.

In addition to the normal amenities of a modern library, there is a Community Room, ornamental staircase and two third floor terraces. Finishes and fixtures selected for this building are second to none.

The facility also boasts a full basement for storage, elevator servicing all floors and solar panel system to demonstrate to the local youth the benefits of solar energy.

Total Building: 46,500 SF


Architectural Record - As seen in March 2011 edition >>

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