The New Jersey Schools Development Authority has awarded a $91.75 million design-build contract to Terminal Construction Corporation to deliver a new middle school in West New York, a project intended to ease overcrowding and expand dedicated learning space for students in grades six through eight.
The facility will span 162,000 square feet, serve up to 862 students, and form part of a wider $121.8 million investment in school facilities across the district, with an opening scheduled for September 2028.
- West New York approved a $91.75 million design-build contract for a 162,000-square-foot middle school serving up to 862 students in grades six through eight.
- The project is part of a $121.8 million district investment and is scheduled to open in September 2028 after design and construction phases are completed.
- The new school will include classrooms, science labs, arts spaces, a gymnasium, an auditorium, and shared student facilities to reduce overcrowding.
Student Capacity and District Demand
West New York has experienced sustained enrollment pressure that has strained existing school buildings, and the new middle school is designed to respond directly to these space limits through a single campus built specifically for middle-grade instruction.
Once complete, the school is expected to reduce crowding while improving access to age-appropriate classrooms, laboratories, and shared spaces for families throughout Hudson County.
“The start of the design-build contract for this important project continues the Authority’s efforts to address school construction needs throughout the State,” said SDA CEO Manuel Da Silva.
Academic, Arts, and Shared Learning Spaces
The building plan integrates core instruction, science, arts, and student support areas within a single structure that includes 30 general classrooms, six science laboratories, and a STEAM lab that supports combined instruction in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.
Arts education will be supported through three art rooms, a dance studio, and separate spaces for instrumental and vocal music, while common-use areas will include a full gymnasium, an auditorium with a stage, a media center, and a cafeteria designed to serve the entire student population.
Design Phase and Construction Oversight
Work on the project has moved into the design stage, a process expected to take between six and nine months. DMR Architects, Inc. is preparing the design while working alongside Terminal Construction Corporation.
The Schools Development Authority has issued a request for construction management services and anticipates selecting a firm in early 2026. That contract will be responsible for managing coordination and construction activities through final completion.
Earlier site work has already been finished under a separate agreement. APS Contracting, Inc. completed demolition and removed existing foundations at the former Warminster building site, where the new middle school will be constructed.
Role Within the Statewide School Program
The West New York middle school forms part of the Schools Development Authority’s statewide program to replace, expand, and modernize school facilities in districts where enrollment growth and aging buildings limit available space.
In West New York, one of the most densely populated communities in Hudson County, the project follows years of planning to align school capacity with current and projected enrollment.
Project Cost and Community Impact
The full project budget of $121.8 million represents a substantial investment in West New York’s public infrastructure that is expected to support construction jobs while adding a long-term public facility to the community.
The design-build approach places responsibility for both design and construction with a single contractor, supporting coordination across phases and helping maintain schedule and cost discipline.
Timeline and Opening Date
With design services in progress and construction oversight moving toward final selection, the project remains scheduled for completion ahead of the 2028–29 school year, allowing time for detailed planning, phased construction, and final approvals.
Once open, the new middle school will serve morethan 800 students and reduce demand on existing buildings, with the campus planned to welcome students at the start of the September 2028 academic year.
