West Caldwell School of Technology Addition & Renovations
West Caldwell, NJ
The West Caldwell Tech building was originally a Monsanto factory that was converted to a school in 1976. Since then, there has been only one major renovation -- the addition of a gymnasium/stage in 2002. The district has done its best to reconfigure the facility into a school, yet the spaces had become inadequate and outdated. After a series of discussions and a study, it was determined that the most efficient and effective plan was to renovate the existing building with several areas being added, including a new second floor in the front of the building. This renovation will allow the district to enhance their academic and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs to better serve the current and future needs of its 550-person student body.
Several new and expanded CTE spaces were created, including a cosmetology lab, agricultural science lab, graphics arts, automotive, music performance and production, and business technology. The Construction and Building Trades department features a common construction area, including carpentry, electrical and plumbing components, as well as building construction technology. The Culinary Sciences/Hospitality Management department includes spaces for culinary arts and chef training, such as a teaching kitchen and bakery lab. Various other traditional program spaces are also provided, including general academic classrooms, science labs, computer and technology labs, and a media center. A 3,600 square-foot Environmental Courtyard was created for the school’s Green Energy initiative and as a supplementary area to its Agricultural Science program. This area offers outdoor seating and teaching spaces, and is landscaped and enclosed in an aesthetically pleasing manner to ensure student safety.
Several new and expanded CTE spaces were created, including a cosmetology lab, agricultural science lab, graphics arts, automotive, music performance and production, and business technology. The Construction and Building Trades department features a common construction area, including carpentry, electrical and plumbing components, as well as building construction technology. The Culinary Sciences/Hospitality Management department includes spaces for culinary arts and chef training, such as a teaching kitchen and bakery lab. Various other traditional program spaces are also provided, including general academic classrooms, science labs, computer and technology labs, and a media center. A 3,600 square-foot Environmental Courtyard was created for the school’s Green Energy initiative and as a supplementary area to its Agricultural Science program. This area offers outdoor seating and teaching spaces, and is landscaped and enclosed in an aesthetically pleasing manner to ensure student safety.