High school’s landscaping project underway

ALLENDALE, N.J. – The Union City High School Student Sanctuary project is officially underway, set to be completed in June 2012.

Under the direction of Borst Landscape & Design’s Terry McMahon, the project will create a 16,900-square-foot triangular pedestrian plaza connecting Union City High School’s main entrance to the community at Kennedy Boulevard and 24th Street. The space will offer both students and members of the public landscaped and hardscaped areas that accommodate student gatherings, including a small amphitheater, benches, brick pathways, bluestone-paved patios, concrete ramps and a radius pergola with additional seating. The landscaping includes evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs and perennials, seasonal grasses, and sculpted-lawn planting. Ornate metal security fences, gates and low natural-stone walls section off the plaza from the street.
 
The Student Sanctuary is the final element to be added to the new Union City High School and Athletic Complex, which officially opened in 2009 and was constructed as one of the State of New Jersey’s demonstration projects by New Jersey’s school construction program.
 
The state-funded Student Sanctuary was the recipient of the Hudson County Planning Board’s 2011 Gold Smart Growth Award. The Division of Planning compiled a list of projects that were provided by the Planning Board in 2010 and applications for this award were evaluated based on site selection, site design and proposed green infrastructure criteria from a number of sources including the American Planning Association, The U.S. Green Building Council, and NJ Future.

“I love the enthusiasm that is ongoing with this project,” McMahon said. "The educators, engineers, contractors and students have this constant energy that is personally giving me a wonderful experience.  The talent and experience among the professionals is a privilege, and ultimately the project will be an outstanding success.”