New Jersey Schools Development Authority Awards Demolition Contract to Ready Site for Future New School in Passaic City

TRENTON, NJ - The New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) recently awarded a $17,468,000 demolition and early site preparation contract to APS Contracting, Inc., for work associated with a new high school project for the Passaic City public school district.

"The advancement of this contract will allow for the demolition of a building that no longer meets the district's needs, paving the way for future construction of a modern school facility that will provide the enhanced educational spaces every student needs to reach their full academic potential," said Manuel Da Silva, SDA Chief Executive Officer. "We look forward to our continued partnership with the Passaic City School District, local officials, and construction partners as we advance the first phase of this important project."

The approved contract scope includes the abatement, demolition and removal of the former 313,000 square-foot Passaic High School No. 12 and all associated site work to ready the site for construction of a new high school in the Passaic Public School District. The new high school will be an approximately 490,000 square-foot facility designed to educate a maximum of 2,823 students in grades nine to twelve.

Demolition activities will commence later this month with abatement and demolition activities of the former Passaic City High School to occur on separate sections of the building simultaneously. Completion of demolition and early site preparation activities are projected to take 14-16 months.

The SDA anticipates issuing an advertisement for design-build services for the new high school in Q1/Q2 2027. The total estimated SDA project cost for the new school, inclusive of the demolition contract, is $328.1 million.

About the SDA

The SDA is the State agency responsible for fully funding and managing the new construction, modernization and renovation of school facilities projects in 31 SDA Districts. Its current portfolio of active projects is valued at approximately $2 billion - including the Capital Project portfolio, emergent projects and Regular Operating District grants. Since the program's inception, the SDA has provided funding for and management oversight of approximately 900 completed school facilities projects in SDA Districts and has executed more than 5,700 grants for Regular Operating Districts throughout the State of New Jersey. For more information about the SDA, please visit our website at: www.njsda.gov; or follow us on social media at:Facebook; Instagram; LinkedIn; or Twitter.