SCHOOLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY CELEBRATES CONSTRUCTION MILESTONE WITH BEAM SIGNING EVENT FOR NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN GARFIELD

GARFIELD - The New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) joined Garfield School District, State, and local officials today at a ceremonial beam signing for the new Woodrow Wilson School No. 5 in Garfield. This event highlights the construction progress of the new school, with the three and four-story steel structure nearly complete.

"While today's beam signing event affords us an opportunity to highlight this significant project milestone, it is more than a symbolic gesture," said Manuel Da Silva, SDA Chief Executive Officer. "It represents collaboration, teamwork, innovation, and a strong commitment to providing the students of Garfield with a school facility that will encourage academic opportunity and personal achievement. The State's investment in school infrastructure projects like this one stands as a testament to the value placed on educating New Jersey's youth and improving student outcomes. We appreciate the continued partnership and support of school district, state, and local leaders, and our contracting partners as we work together to bring a new school facility to the Garfield community."

"Today's beam signing marks a powerful milestone for our city," said Dr. Richard Tomko, Garfield Superintendent. "It represents not only progress but the promise of opportunity for generations of students who will walk through its doors. This new school reflects the Board's commitment to providing safe, modern learning environments where children can grow academically, socially, and emotionally. We are grateful to the SDA, our representatives, and the many partners who helped make this moment possible. When this school opens in 2027, it will stand as a symbol of Garfield's investment in its future and in the success of every child we serve."

The steel beam signed today was then hoisted into place as part of the school's permanent steel structure and a reminder of the collaboration needed to bring projects like this to fruition. The beam was placed in the classroom section above the gymnasium.

The new school will be an approximately 132,000 square-foot facility designed to educate a maximum of 850 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. In addition to general classrooms and kindergarten classrooms, the school will include a vocal music room, an instrumental lesson room, an art room with a kiln, a STEAM lab, a media center, a cafeteria, a multi-purpose room, and a gymnasium. The school is three or four-stories throughout the building.

The school project is advancing using a design-build approach. The design-build method differs from the traditional design-bid-build approach by allowing the SDA to contract with one firm for both design and construction of a school facilities project. Dobco, Inc. is the design-build contractor for the project. As part of the design-build contract, Dobco is working with NK Architects, P.A. on the design. Accenture Infrastructure and Capital Projects, LLC is managing the project.

As a result of SDA's commitment to building energy-efficient buildings that consider the surrounding environment, this school will be built with the goal of achieving LEED (United States Green Building Council - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification.

The $87.6 million State investment in this new educational facility will significantly reduce district-wide overcrowding while supporting hundreds of construction and other jobs throughout the project duration.

Once complete, the school will be the fourth Capital Project completed by the SDA in Garfield since the inception of the school construction program. The SDA previously invested more than $97 million in completed projects in the Garfield School District.

About the New Jersey Schools Development Authority
The SDA is the State agency responsible for fully funding and managing the new construction, modernization and renovation of school facilities projects in 31 SDA Districts. Its current portfolio of active projects is valued at approximately $2 billion - including the Capital Project portfolio, emergent projects and Regular Operating District grants. Since the program's inception, the SDA has provided funding for and management oversight of 900 completed school facilities projects in SDA Districts and has executed more than 5,400 grants for Regular Operating Districts throughout the State of New Jersey. For more information about the SDA, please visit our website at: www.njsda.gov or follow us on social media at: Facebook; Instagram; LinkedIn; or Twitter.