Workers have topped out the construction of the BelovED Community Charter School’s $12.5 million middle school building in Jersey City, N.J.

The new 53,000-square foot, four-story middle school, scheduled to open later this year with about 360 students, will serve house grades six to nine.

The charter school has an existing facility across the street from middle school site that houses 1,080 students in grades K-8. 

The middle school facility will have an open first floor with outdoor recreational facilities, 20 full-sized classrooms, four half-classrooms, a gymnasium, a multipurpose room, and a large cafetorium.

The building's sustainable features include a high-efficiency HVAC system, LED lights, and increased thermal insulation. It also will have an outdoors ecology and biology teaching space where students will perform experiments with plants and observe various micro-environments.

The architect is Urbahn Architects and the construction manager is Hollister Construction Services.