Hanging apparatuses include this 90-degree horizontal loop ladder.

At multiple proposed sites throughout the state, Langan performed comprehensive environmental due diligence, completed site feasibility analysis and pre-design studies, identified short-term demolition and site cleanup liabilities, as well as long-term site/civil, geotechnical and environmental issues that could affect new school construction.

Langan earned an excellence award for its overall contribution to the New Jersey school construction program from the American Council of Engineering Companies of New Jersey.

The street trees have traditional cobblestone tree pits on all four street frontages. The 5-inch by 5-inch cobbles were installed hand-tight on a sand-setting bed. Steel picket perimeter fencing along the street is 12 feet tall surrounding the basketball court and 8 feet tall around the perimeter. A 3 foot fence separates the plaza area from the play area.

Challenges

Langan reports the new school construction for Roberto Clemente Elementary was complicated by engineering challenges, including shoring of adjacent street-beds to accommodate a deep earthwork cut, coupled with high stormwater detention requirements. The unique design approach placed faculty parking in the rear courtyard and integrated multiple outdoor school and community play spaces in the front courtyard.

The tree pits in the front courtyard have three inches of stabilized crushed stone to provide a walkable surface, soften the hardscape, allow stormwater infiltration and offer a flexible paving surface that is more forgiving for tree roots. Urban-tolerant thornless common honeylocusts were planted in a broken grid fashion, mimicking building column lines. Trees were planted in continuous tree pits to maximize combined planting soil volume.

Continuous tree pits included tree pit drainage, irrigation and aeration piping to promote robust growth and a canopy ceiling for shade and winter interest.

The front courtyard, transected by entrance walks lined with plantings, decorative lighting and seating nodes, is organized into separate play spaces through a grid of trees, planter areas, seating walls, curbs and paving materials. Paving materials included stabilized crushed stone paving in tree pits, poured-in-place safety surfacing and colored concrete paving throughout.

Twelve spray heads (Vortex Aquatic Structures) are flush to the grade and designed to be concealed in the colored concrete paving and maximize the use of the front courtyard during off-season months. The adjustable spray heads have tamper-resistant adjustable brass spray caps.

The heart of the courtyard is an open play space cut into the grade with outdoor classroom seating and in-ground aquatic play features. Other amenities include a play equipment area, separate kindergarten play area with spring toys and painted games, and a basketball court.

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Arm-mounted Glowtop cylindrical semi-spherical cutoff luminaires (Hubble Lighting) are high-intensity lamps on 14.5' poles that provide good security lighting for the front entrance courtyard and playground. The single piece cast aluminum housings have vandal resistant lenses. The luminaries for the parking lot and basketball court are mounted on 22-ft. poles (Kim Lighting). The numbers and letter games were painted on the finish poured-in-place safety surface.

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Project:
Roberto Clemente Elementary School
Paterson, N.J.

Owner:
Paterson Public Schools

Developer:
New Jersey Schools
Development Authority (NJSEA)

Architect:
Einhorn Yaffee Prescott
Architecture & Engineering P.C. (EYP)

Landscape Architect:
Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, Elmwood Park, N.J.
Services: Site / Civil Engineering ?EUR??,,????'?????< Storm Water Detention ?EUR??,,????'?????< Documents and Specifications

Construction Managers (joint venture)
Jacobs/ Epic

General Contractor
VRH Construction

Site Contractor
Vollers

Landscape Contractor
Valley Landscape Inc.