Hopatcong, New Jersey
Area: 7,800 sq. ft.

Sussex County’s first library http://www.sussexcountylibrary.org was a book mobile purchased in 1942.  Since that time the library system has expanded to six locations scattered throughout the County.  HQW Architects was commissioned to design one of the branch locations on a steeply sloped site which provided a fantastic opportunity to explore the relationship between architecture and the natural environment.

HQW designed the Louis Childs Branch of the Sussex County Library as one of the first environmentally responsive buildings in the County.  The building was partially constructed into the side of a hill to minimize heat loss in the winter and maximize cooling in the summer.  There is also an extensive system of clerestory windows that bring natural light into the interior of the building.  This not only creates a healthy environment in which to read, but also reduces energy costs by maximizing daylight and taking advantage of passive solar heating.

Newton, New Jersey

Sussex County Community College http://sussex.edu, located on 167 scenic acres on the old Horton Family Estate, is ranked as the 11th fastest-growing public two-year college in the nation with a 2,500 – 4,999 student population.  This phenomenal rate of growth has made campus improvement and expansion projects critical to the continued success of the institution.

HQW Architects has been retained in many capacities over the years to provide a variety of architectural services for the college.  Projects have ranged from updating the college Master Plan to extensive renovations of major campus buildings.  Spaces have included a new administration center, science labs, the main cafeteria, commercial kitchen, game room, and classrooms.  Many of the projects have been classified as “time critical” as the work needed to be completed over summer breaks when the campus is lightly utilized.

Newton, New Jersey
Area: 7,500 sq. ft.

As the 11th fastest-growing public two-year college in the nation with a 2,500 – 4,999 student population, Sussex County Community College http://sussex.edu has been experiencing a phenomenal rate of growth.  As the college expands, an important growth strategy has been the adaptation of redundant space made available by new campus structures.

HQW Architects redesigned the spaces of the old Library Building into a new fine arts facility and administration center.  Taking advantage of the existing double-height windows, light-filled studios and a formal gallery space highlight the renovations.  Additional spaces include printing labs, a dark room, and general classrooms.

Sparta, New Jersey

Pope John XXIII Regional High School http://www.popejohn.org, founded in 1956, enrolls approximately 935 students in grades 9 through 12.  This Catholic School, in cooperation with the family, the parish, and the local community aims at the realization of each student’s potential as a Christian individual living in society, capable of performing a meaningful role in the context of the family and the community.

The Chapel and Sculpture Park create a spiritual hub at the center of the busy high school campus.  The Chapel is a double height space with a magnificent stained glass window displaying an image of Jesus as a teacher.  The other three walls of the chapel open to the exterior with large cruciform widows that embrace the inhabitants of the space.

Sparta, New Jersey
Area: 34,000 sq. ft.

Pope John XXIII Regional High School http://www.popejohn.org, founded in 1956, is a regional Catholic high school administered under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson.  The school is a coeducational, non-residential college preparatory high school, drawing its student body from Sussex, Morris, Passaic and Warren counties as well as from neighboring counties of Pennsylvania.  The school enrolls approximately 935 students in grades 9 through 12.

To meet the expanding school population and to provide excellent facilities for the students, several campus buildings need to be upgraded and expanded.  HQW Architects designed a two-story building constructed as a 3-phased project that accommodated the needs of the expanding educational and athletic programs.  Phase I included the Library, Science Labs, Art, and Music classrooms, Phase II included locker rooms and showers, and Phase III included the addition of a 10,000 s.f. Gymnasium.

Newark, New Jersey

Newark Public Schools http://www.nps.k12.nj.us, the largest school district in New Jersey with over 42,000 students, selected HQW Architects to provide architectural services for the renovations to three of their elementary schools.  Working in conjunction with the former New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation (NJSCC), facility improvements and life safety upgrades were undertaken at the Maple Avenue Elementary School, the Franklin Elementary School, and the Elliot Street School.  Work included boiler replacement, chimney and façade repairs, roof replacement, door and window replacement, as well as health and safety upgrades.

Blairstown, New Jersey
Area: 16,900 sq. ft.

From the early 1950’s to 1997, “Memorial Hall” was Blair Academy’s http://www.blair.edu/ main library and auditorium.  With the recent construction of their new Performing Arts Center, the severely overcrowded library was able to expand in to the area vacated by the auditorium.

In achieving the design goals, the following were building modifications were completed:

The exterior of the building was repointed, an elevator was added to the interior, and a large portion of the second floor was removed to increase visual control.  A mezzanine was added in the volume of the old auditorium for stack space. A massive skylight was sculpted into the roof to bring daylight deep into the interior of the new public spaces. The existing entrance was extensively reworked and large openings were cut out into the back of the building to allow daylight into the new reading lounges. A new fire protection system was also installed. Memorial Hall today looks much the same as when originally constructed, however, its function has been adapted to serve the present day educational requirements.

Blairstown, New Jersey
Area: 42,000 sq. ft.

Blair Academy http://www.blair.edu/, a private school located in Northwest New Jersey, asked HQW Architects to design a performing arts center that would help solidify their position as one of the premier educational institutions in the tri-state area. In response, HQW created a “Center for the Arts” on the 435-acre campus.  The facility houses both the performing and visual arts, with its centerpiece being a state-of-the-art 500-seat, multi-use theater.  Surrounding and supporting the main theater is an experimental “black box” theater, a choral room, dance studios, individual musical practice rooms, visual arts studios, and theater support spaces.  The theater was included in the book “Halls for Music Performance: Another two decades of Experience 1982-2002” published by the Acoustical Society of America to recognize outstanding performance spaces throughout the world.

Blairstown, New Jersey
Area: 17,000 sq. ft.

Founded in 1848, Blair Academy http://www.blair.edu/, one of the premier private educational institutions in the northeastern United States, has an enrollment of 435 students; the majority of which are full time residence during the school year.  In order to continually provide exceptional facilities and to accommodate a growing student population it was necessary to renovate and expand a 150-year old, four-storey stone and wood dormitory located on the main campus.

The project included a first floor dining hall and kitchen with three stories of student and faculty housing above.  The fourth floor was returned to useful service as newly refinished student housing with a new oak stairwell added for building access.  Additional renovations included a new elevator tower for increased accessibility as well as a new fire protection system.

Blairstown, New Jersey
Area: 24,000 sq. ft.

Blair Academy http://www.blair.edu/ is a private school located on 435 hilltop acres adjacent to the Village of Blairstown, New Jersey.  Founded in 1848 the school currently has an enrollment of 435 students, the majority of which are full time residence during the school year.

When Blair Academy was in need of additional dormitory facilities they enlisted HQW Architects to design a facility that would not only be state-of-the-art in terms of functionality, but would feel residential in scale and have an architectural harmony with the older buildings on campus.  The result was Annie Hall, home to 40 female students and four faculty members.  Constructed of masonry and steel with a stone and brick exterior and a slate roof, the new dormitory is one of the more prominent buildings on the Blair Campus.