New Jersey school administration building to be demolished and replaced

A 121-year-old administration building is being demolished and replaced in Lodi, New Jersey, a report by northjersey.com says. The Board of Education approved a $6 million contract for the project.

Vanas Construction Co., Bogota, New Jersey, won the bid and will be paid through the school district’s capital reserve account, the report says. There will be no property tax increase.

According to the report, the $6 million contract is strictly for construction and demolition. Other expenses involved in the project include a $600,000 contingency, $200,000 for furniture and fixtures and $300,000 for environmental and site costs. The total project cost is around $7.1 million.

An 18,000-square-foot building will replace the two-story, 19,000-square foot structure that previously had two fires, the report says. The decision to demolish was made after a structural engineer concluded the building may not be safe for occupants in the long term. 

Construction is set to start March 1, the report says. The administration building is the home of 24 employees, the school board offices, the superintendent’s office and the district’s child study team for students with special needs.