Union County Vocational Technical Schools

Between 2013 and 2017, Netta Architects was the chief architectural firm overseeing multiple projects in partnership with Union County Vocational Technical Schools.

Vocational schooling is unique; it offers millions of young students across the country the opportunity to take curated classes on specific job industries and trade careers. Students receive not just a focused education that includes industry-specific math and English classes necessary to prepare them for college, but also hands-on experience with tools, clientele, and real world problems.

With such a unique approach to education than standard public schooling, designing the new halls for Union County VOTECH meant creating a workspace where students and teachers could collaborate together, learning through experience.

Over the course of the five-year project, Netta Architects designed an exterior bridge connecting two wings of the campus, created a student lounge and renovated dozens of classrooms to enhance the learning environment.

We modernized the elevator and shaft to include new cab finishes, door components, hydraulic equipment; ADA upgrades and fire alarm integration – completing the project on time and on budget while only working during student recess.

We repurposed an existing Electronic Media Center within Mancuso Hall, transforming it into a collaborative new, tri-zone multipurpose center; a Makerspace workshop, an Equipment space, and a Media Space. This dynamic space provides students with multiple zones that facilitate the flow of creativity. The student’s work and creativity can become fluid; bounding naturally from conceptualizing ideas directly to hands-on activities without interruption or distraction.

Finally, in completing the 38,000 square foot West Hall Science Building – a brand new addition to the campus – our partnership delivered a new, state-of-the-art curriculum, featuring industry-leading chemistry, biology and physics laboratories along with classrooms, computer labs, a fitness center, and associated administrative support spaces.