NJ Schools Development Authority Projects

Challenge

The New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) advances projects that address overcrowding and aging infrastructure needs in many of its public school districts.
 

Solution

GZA has provided multi-disciplinary services for many SDA projects, including:

• Paterson STEAM High School, Paterson, New Jersey.  Geotechnical engineering investigation and design for a new 245,000-square-foot, five-story  school constructed through a design-build contract. Construction occurring at the site of an existing, active school facility and deep cuts of up to 25 feet required to construct a two-tier retaining wall along the site perimeter were among the project challenges. After reviewing the geotechnical data report provided in bridging documents, GZA executed a supplemental boring and test pit program to support the design of the proposed building and retaining wall foundations, as well as the planned stormwater structures. GZA’s program consisted of 11 borings and 11 test pits, geotechnical engineering analysis, and a geotechnical design and construction recommendations report. GZA also provided radon and sub-slab depressurization system (SSDS) design services.  
• Union City Middle School, Union City, New Jersey.  Provided geotechnical engineering, design, and construction support services on the design-build team for proposed new middle school designed to educate 827 students. The project entailed a six-story building, approximately 130,000 square feet, constructed in a dense residential neighborhood. Sitework included site preparation (including excavation and removal of all historic fill to depth of bedrock), liquid and gas site utilities improvements, site electrical improvements, as well as earthwork and installation of play areas, paving, fencing, exterior walks, stairs and ramps, and retaining walls. The project also included a below grade stormwater management system beneath recreational play area.
• Garfield Elementary School, Garfield, New Jersey.  Provided geotechnical engineering for a new four-story elementary school of approximately 50,500 square feet on a site with a  significant grade differential. The design requires extensive excavations into rock. GZA completed borings/rock coring and provided foundation recommendations. The geotechnical report also addressed rock excavation, support of excavation, and waterproofing. A 360-foot-long retaining wall, ranging in height from 5-8 feet high, runs the entire length of the site. New stormwater facilities include an underground detention basin. 
• Demarest School Flood Vulnerability Study and Environmental Site Closure, Hoboken, New Jersey.  GZA provided flood hazard and environmental services to the SDA as it considered renovating existing education spaces at A.J. Demarest School. Built in 1910, it is in a special flood hazard area per Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  GZA’s work included a flood vulnerability assessment and review of city, state, and/or federal regulatory limitations; evaluation of compliance alternatives (including flood proofing, map revision and/or amendment); and preliminary analysis of dry flood proofing requirements. GZA helped the client evaluate alternatives and participated in flood-related discussions with the City; the Hoboken Floodplain Administrator approved the proposed flood mitigation methods and measures. Environmental services included a Preliminary Assessment (PA) of the Site and an Environmental Screening Report (ESR).
• Orange High School Addition and Renovation, Orange, New Jersey.  GZA provided geotechnical and environmental services for interior and exterior renovations of the existing school, construction of a 50,000 SF addition, and a pedestrian bridge. The subsurface exploration program included ten test borings within proposed building addition; two test borings within the footprint of proposed pedestrian bridge; laboratory testing of soils samples and rock cores; evaluation of subsurface conditions; and foundation and construction recommendations. GZA also provided hazardous materials, environmental and LSRP services and expedited the project and saved costs by coordinating drilling required for geotechnical and environmental tasks.
• Mercury-Containing Flooring Investigations, Multiple locations, New Jersey. GZA provided hazardous materials consulting services to investigate the presence of mercury in poured rubberized polyurethane flooring at several elementary schools. We reviewed site plans, flooring manufacturer product information, and developed sampling plans. GZA collected representative bulk samples of flooring for mercury analysis. If results warranted, indoor air samples were then collected for analysis. For each site, GZA provided a report summarizing bulk sample and indoor air sampling results and recommendations for further actions.
   

Benefit

GZA has worked on a variety of school projects,  on large architect/engineer and design-build teams as well as directly for the SDA.