Dawes Avenue School, Somers Point, NJ

When the Somers Point School District asked DRG to inspect their crumbling Dawes Avenue School, we responded immediately. Our analysis showed that inferior mortar was used and had failed, making the whole structure unsafe. We determined that a brand new school was only slightly more expensive that repairing the old one.

DRG designed a state-of-the art heating and air conditioning system utilizing geothermal heat pumps, which consumes less energy than the old electric ventilation system. The library was replaced by a media center with a story-telling area and computer research station. We designed brightly colored classrooms and enlarged them to meet state educational standards. The new school also has special education rooms to meet growing programs.

The New Jersey Association for School Administrators and New Jersey School Board Officials gave the Dawes Avenue School the 2001 silver award for architecture in school design.