The Hudson County Schools of Technology (HCST) recently opened a 350,000-square-foot technical high school on the 20-acre Frank J. Gargiulo campus in Laurel Hill Park, Secaucus. The High Tech High School facility, comprised of 70 classrooms, a 120-seat black box theater, a 325-seat auditorium, and a full TV production studio, will educate nearly 2,000 students.
The $150 million High Tech High School was developed to meet LEED Gold standards. Water-efficient landscapes, geothermal heating, a green roof, and wind turbines were developed along with the facility.
HCST and the Hudson County Improvement Authority partnered with DMR Architects, RSC Architects, MAST Construction Services, and Terminal Construction Corporation for the construction of the facility.
“The Frank J. Gargiulo Campus will quickly become the gold standard for technical high schools across the country,” Amy Lin-Rodriguez, HCST acting superintendent said in a news release. “Our design team, working collaboratively with our educators, have created something truly revolutionary. I know that it will serve our students and staff with the resources to drive learning to the next level.”
Laurel Hill Park is located immediately adjacent to the Secaucus Junction NJ Transit station. High Tech High School, KAS Prep, and Hudson Technical are all part of the Frank J. Gargiulo campus. The educational facilities specialize in culinary arts, design and fabrication, applied and environmental sciences, and visual and performing arts.
“It’s an honor to see the former Field Station Dinosaur Park transformed into a campus that puts Hudson County on the map as a top educational and environmentally conscious landmark,” Hudson County Improvement Authority CEO Norman Guerra said in a news release. “We have our outstanding designers and construction managers to thank.”
Construction of the 350,000-square-foot facility was completed in 27 months.
High Tech High School was built at the site of the former Field Station Dinosaur Park. The park was opened in May 2012 and closed in 2015. Field Station Dinosaur Park reopened in Leonia.
