A predicted record enrollment of 1,400 students for the 2003-04 school year at Teaneck High School, Teaneck, N.J., prompted the school to renovate its facility. The school freed up space by creatively reusing existing areas instead of building new additions.
The school redeveloped one of its two gymnasiums into two auxiliary gyms/event rooms and six new classrooms; renovated 48 existing classrooms and constructed six new classrooms; developed a new art studio, multicultural center, teachers' planning center and guidance suite; replaced all corridor and classroom lighting fixtures; installed a new heating and cooling system; and provided new ceiling and corridor wall finishes.
The Elizabeth Street gymnasium was a column-free, 6,000-square-foot, double-height facility situated on the school's first floor. The redevelopment created 6,000 square feet of additional classroom space by dividing the gym's space vertically. A floor was built horizontally across the height of the school's gym. This new second floor now houses six classrooms above the gym.
New paint and skim coating of walls rejuvenated classroom surfaces. The front walls received new markerboards, and new acoustical ceilings and public-address systems were installed. New speakers were composed into the acoustical ceilings and masked with white grilles. Existing wiring was reused in pre-existing spaces.
The architect for this project is DMR Architects (Maywood, N.J.), and the general contractor is ICS Builders, Inc. (Roselle Park, N.J.).
